Yoga And Cardiovascular Health Trial
Condition: Cardiovascular Disease
MeSH terms: Cardiovascular Diseases
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The benefits of alternative therapeutic approaches, such as yoga, are poorly understood and
      this is particularly true of the beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It
      is hoped that a better understanding of the value of this therapy will provide a sound
      scientific basis for including yoga in mainstream clinical practice. The investigators
      propose to study a group of 80 participants (40 Indian Asians and 40 Europeans) recruited
      from a cardiac rehabilitation programme in West London post-angioplasty as treatment for an
      acute coronary syndrome. Those who agree will undergo a series of baseline and follow-up
      measurements. 20 Indian Asians and 20 Europeans will be randomized to the yoga intervention
      plus their standard cardiac rehabilitation programme (usual care), and the remaining 20
      Indian Asians and 20 Europeans will be randomized to usual care alone. Baseline and follow-up
      measurements will be performed on all participants. In order to determine the acute effects
      of yoga the group randomised to the yoga intervention will also undergo a series of acute
      tests before and after their first yoga session.
    

Detailed description: 
      The benefits of alternative therapeutic approaches, such as yoga, are poorly understood and
      this is particularly true of the beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It
      is hoped that a better understanding of the value of this therapy will provide a sound
      scientific basis for including yoga in mainstream clinical practice. The investigators
      propose to study a group of 80 participants (40 Indian Asians and 40 Europeans) recruited
      from a cardiac rehabilitation programme in West London post-angioplasty as treatment for an
      acute coronary syndrome. Those who agree will undergo a series of baseline and follow-up
      measurements. 20 Indian Asians and 20 Europeans will be randomized to the yoga intervention
      plus their standard cardiac rehabilitation programme (usual care), and the remaining 20
      Indian Asians and 20 Europeans will be randomized to usual care alone. Baseline and follow-up
      measurements will be performed on all participants; these include: Demographic & health
      questionnaire, Lifestyle questionnaires focusing on diet and exercise, Fasting bloods
      sampling (for cardiovascular risk factors and markers), Saliva sampling (x 5 samples for
      salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase), Anthropometrics - height, weight and waist and hip
      circumference, Bioimpedence - measurement of total body fat, 3D and Doppler echocardiography,
      Carotid IMT, Resting brachial blood pressure, Central blood pressure (tonometery at the
      radial artery), Pulse Wave Velocity, 12 lead ECG, Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, Combined
      24hr BP & ECG monitor, Accelerometer (3 days). In order to determine the acute effects of
      yoga the group randomised to the yoga intervention will also undergo a series of acute tests
      before and after their first yoga session. These include: Exercise capacity, Saliva sampling
      (x 5 samples for salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase) and combined 24hr BP & ECG monitor.
    

Intervention name(s): Yoga
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Those randomised to usual care plus the yoga intervention will be required to attend yoga classes twice a week for 12 weeks alongside their cardiac rehabilitation programme. There will be 24 yoga classes in total, of which, we require the participant to attend a minimum of 18. The yoga classes will be conducted by a teacher certified in yoga and cardiac rehabilitation and will encompass physical fitness (yoga poses), stress reduction (breath control and meditation) and positive lifestyle changes (diet, smoking and alcohol).
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Basic Science