Effects of Yoga in the Care of Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This review delves into the potential benefits of integrating yoga into the care of patients with heart failure. A systematic literature review was undertaken through electronic searches of indexed databases. Quality assessment utilized the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and data on population characteristics, interventions, and clinical, biochemical, and functional outcomes were meticulously extracted. Six randomized trials, encompassing 296 individuals with a left ventricular ejection fraction between 30 and 50%, and functionally classified per the New York Heart Association as I, II, or III, were included. Despite limited published experimental research, yoga demonstrates promising effectiveness in enhancing outcomes such as quality of life, functional capacity, and clinical markers. Notably, safety and adherence outcomes remain unexplored. Future studies should prioritize a representative sample size, methodological rigor, and adherence to established yoga intervention guidelines in randomized clinical trials, ensuring comprehensive evaluation across short-, medium-, and long-term perspectives.