Table 3 Exploration of heart rate variability metrics related to virtual reality modules and training sequence using generalized estimating equations to control for age, sex, residence level, and time

HR

13.3 (− 11.4–38.0)

0.29

17.1 (− 7.4–41.5)

0.17

−8.5 (− 49.9–32.9)

0.69

−1.8 (− 7.9–4.3)

0.56

24.2 (− 13.2–61.6)

0.21

−12.5 (− 30.7–5.7)

0.18

0.30 (− 0.35–0.94)

0.37

SDNN

38.2 (− 3.6–80.0)

0.07

52.5 (11.1–94.0)

0.13

−75.8 (− 128.2–−23.4)

< 0.01

−12.0 (− 18.3–−5.7)

< 0.01

59.1 (18.8–99.3)

< 0.01

−22.4 (− 44.7–−0.1)

0.049

1.3 (− 0.6–3.2)

0.18

RMSSD

49.0 (− 4.3–102.2)

0.07

47.3 (− 4.3–98.9)

0.07

−75.6 (− 137.8–−13.5)

0.02

−12.6 (− 20.0–−5.2)

< 0.01

67.0 (17.4–116.7)

< 0.01

−35.6 (− 57.2–−14.1)

< 0.01

0.4 (− 1.2–2.1)

0.62

LF/HF ratio

−1.2 (− 3.8–1.4)

0.36

0.3 (− 2.3–3.0)

0.80

0.1 (− 4.3–4.4)

0.98

0.5 (0.2–0.8)

< 0.01

0.1 (− 1.5–1.6)

0.96

−1.0 (− 3.1–1.2)

0.38

0.1 (− 0.1–0.1)

0.99

Parameters

Group

Age

Sex

Residence level

Time

Reference value

IBVR − TBVR

youngest

female

R1

baseline

β (95% CI)

P-value

β (95% CI)

P-value

β (95% CI)

P-value

β (95% CI)

P-value

β (95% CI)

P-value

HR

5.1 (− 18.2–28.5)

0.67

−2.0 (− 8.4–4.4)

0.54

25.3 (− 13.7–64.4)

0.20

−12.1 (− 30.9–6.6)

0.21

−0.1 (− 0.6–0.4),

0.70

SDNN

38.1 (11.7–64.6)

< 0.01

−12.0 (− 18.4–−5.6)

< 0.01

59.3 (18.4–100.3)

< 0.01

−22.3 (− 44.5–0.02)

0.05

1.3 (− 0.5–3.1),

0.17

RMSSD

38.1 (6.8–69.5)

0.02

−12.6 (− 20.1–−5.2)

< 0.01

67.4 (17.0–117.8)

< 0.01

−35.6 (− 57.1–−14.1)

< 0.01

0.4 (− 1.3–2.0),

0.66

LF/HF ratio

−0.1 (− 2.2–2.1)

0.96

0.5 (0.8–11.1)

< 0.01

0.1 (− 1.5–1.5)

0.98

−1.0 (− 3.1–1.2)

0.38

0.1 (− 0.1–0.1),

0.92