~30 million people in the US have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are at 5-15 fold greater risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and mortality. A major factor contributing to increased CV risk in these patients is chronic elevation of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. New therapeutic strategies to safely and effectively ameliorate SNS over-activity are of paramount importance to improve clinical outcomes in this highly prevalent and high-risk patient population.~This study will test whether mindfulness meditation (MM) improves sympathetic function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and whether transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) optimizes the sympatho-inhibitory effects of mindfulness meditation (MM) and restores autonomic balance in CKD patients.
This study will test whether mindfulness meditation (MM) improves sympathetic function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and whether transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) optimizes the sympatho-inhibitory effects of mindfulness meditation (MM) and restores autonomic balance in CKD patients.