A consistent practice of yoga therapy, as a complement to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for patients with heart failure (HF), was associated with improvements in endurance, strength, balance, symptom stability and quality of life, as well as biventricular systolic function and functional outcomes, according to a study being presented at ACC Asia 2023, held Sept. 29-30 in Manila, Philippines, and hosted by the ACC and the Philippine Heart Association.

The study included 75 patients with ≤NYHA Class III HF at a tertiary care center in South India, who underwent coronary intervention, revascularization or device therapy within the previous six months to one year and had been on optimized medical therapy. The intervention group included 35 participants (31 men and 4 women) and the nonintervention group included 40 participants (30 men and 10 women). Both groups received GDMT. For the first week, participants in the intervention group were taught selected yoga therapy, meditation and relaxation techniques at the hospital in sessions lasting 60 minutes and then they were advised to perform yoga at least five days a week for 12 months.

Ajit Singh, PhD, et al., measured quality of life improvements using the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire, which uses 26 questions to evaluate quality of life in four domains: physical, psychological, social and environmental health. The participants completed the questionnaire at enrollment, 24-weeks and 48-weeks of follow-up. Echocardiographic parameters were compared at various follow-ups.

Results showed participants in the yoga group had improvements in endurance, strength, balance, symptom stability and quality of life. At both the six- and 12-month follow-up, compared with the noninterventional group, the intervention group had improved biventricular systolic function as well as substantial improvement in functional outcomes.

“This study proves that the addition of yoga therapy to standard medical management of HF leads to an improvement in left ventricular systolic function and quality of life in HF patients,” Singh said. “Hence, yoga therapy may improve physical well-being and left ventricular function among HF patients on guideline-directed optimal medical therapy.”

“While this is a small study, the results are promising for possible benefit of yoga in this population,” added Kim A. Eagle, MD, MACC.

ACC Asia 2023 will bring together all members of the cardiac care team in the Asia-Pacific region, including cardiologists, fellows in training, nurses, and more. Other clinical cases and poster presentations include:

• Effects of Exercise Timing on Weight Indices: A Meta-Analysis
• Does Exercise Timing Affect Your Sleep Behaviors?: A Meta-Analysis
• Does Exercise Timing Affect Metabolic Profiles?: A Meta-Analysis
• Assessment of the Impact of Yoga on Heart Failure Patients Using Echocardiographic Parameters
• Current Status, Sex Differences, and Trends of Heart Failure in Asia: Analysis from 1990 to 2019