Effects of tele-yoga on physical and psychological outcomes in patients living with ICD, a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Thylen I , Jaarsma T , Klompstra L , Papageorgiou J M , Hedbom T , Lundberg M , Orwelius L , Stromberg A 
Published: May 2024

Background

Patients with long-term illness, including those living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), often suffer from symptoms of anxiety and depression, decreased health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL), and impaired functional capacity. Yoga, being a mind-body intervention, may improve all these outcomes.

Purpose

To determine effects of tele-yoga on exercise capacity and patient-reported outcome measures.

Methods

A single-blind (evaluator blinded) parallel two-arm RCT with 1:1 distribution. Participants were recruited from four hospitals in Sweden. Inclusion criteria: &gt;18 years, admitted to a cardiology or intensive care units &gt;48 hours during the last 36 months due to ICD implantation or ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, or conditions in need of intensive care and now clinically stable. The participants were randomised to a control group receiving individual exercise advice or to the intervention group (tele-yoga). The intervention included performing live-streamed group-yoga for 60 min twice/week for 3 months and practicing yoga individually for a minimum of 10 min/day using an app. The group-sessions with approximately 10 participants were led by certified Mediyoga-instructors via the virtual video-platform ZOOM. The yoga form was Kundalini adapted to individuals with health conditions (Mediyoga). Two standardised yoga-programmes including different postures, breathing exercises and meditations were rotated. The primary endpoint of the study after 3 months was a combined endpoint consisting of change in functional capacity measured by 6-min walk test (6MWT), HRQOL (EQ-5D index/VAS) and symptoms of anxiety and depression (HADS). The used cut offs for change were 30 meters for 6MWT, a score &gt;11 for EQ-5D VAS and ≥8 for anxiety/depression in HADS. Secondary endpoints included separate analysis of functional capacity, HRQOL and symptoms of anxiety/depression.

Results

In total, 311 participants were randomized to tele-yoga (n=156) and control (n=155), mean age 65.8 years, 30% women, 38% living with an ICD (whereof 62% had a primary preventive indication). Median attendance to yoga-sessions was 20 sessions for 12 weeks and 74% of the study participants were adherent to &gt;16 tele-yoga sessions. There were no adverse events reported during yoga sessions or app usage. In this sub-group analysis involving the ICD cohort (n=118), there was a significant improvement in favour of the tele-yoga group in the combined primary endpoint (p=.011). When analysing them separately, there was a significant improvement in 6MWT (p=.002), but not in HRQOL in EQ-5D VAS or symptoms of anxiety and depression. No adverse events were reported during yoga sessions or app usage.

Conclusion

Digitally delivered mind-body training such as tele-yoga showed a significant improvement in the combined endpoint consisting of physical function, HRQOL and mental health. Tele-yoga may be a promising new form of rehabilitation for patients living with ICD.