Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
Resting-State Connectivity and Neuroimaging of Prefrontal Cortex Activity During a Block-Design Yoga Asana Practice Using fNIRS
Published on: June 24, 2025
Yoga for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease
Joey S W Kwong1, Hoi Lam Caren Lau, Fai Yeung
1Chinese Cochrane Center, Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610041.
Insights
The effectiveness of yoga for secondary prevention in coronary heart disease (CHD) is uncertain. More high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to confirm benefits for patients with CHD.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Preventive Medicine
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of mortality in developed nations.
- Secondary prevention strategies are crucial for managing established CHD and preventing adverse events.
- Lifestyle modifications, including physical activity and stress management, are vital components of secondary prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of yoga in the secondary prevention of mortality and morbidity among individuals with CHD.
- To assess the impact of yoga on health-related quality of life in patients with CHD.
Main Methods:
- An updated systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted.
- Searches were performed across multiple electronic databases without language restrictions.
- Inclusion criteria focused on RCTs of yoga interventions in adults with CHD, with a minimum follow-up of six months.
Main Results:
- No eligible RCTs met the inclusion criteria for this updated review.
- Consequently, a meta-analysis could not be performed to synthesize the data.
Conclusions:
- The effectiveness of yoga for secondary prevention in coronary heart disease (CHD) remains undetermined.
- There is a critical need for large, high-quality randomized controlled trials to establish the role of yoga in CHD secondary prevention.
Background:
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the major cause of early morbidity and mortality in most developed countries. Secondary prevention aims to prevent repeat cardiac events and death in people with established CHD. Lifestyle modifications play an important role in secondary prevention. Yoga has been regarded as a type of physical activity as well as a stress management strategy. Growing evidence suggests the beneficial effects of yoga on various ailments.
Objectives:
To determine the effectiveness of yoga for the secondary prevention of mortality and morbidity in, and on the health-related quality of life of, individuals with CHD.
Search Methods:
This is an update of a review previously published in 2012. For this updated review, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library (Issue 1 of 12, 2014), MEDLINE (1948 to February week 1 2014), EMBASE (1980 to 2014 week 6), Web of Science (Thomson Reuters, 1970 to 12 February 2014), China Journal Net (1994 to May 2014), WanFang Data (1990 to May 2014), and Index to Chinese Periodicals of Hong Kong (HKInChiP) (from 1980). Ongoing studies were identified in the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (May 2014) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (May 2014). We applied no language restrictions.
Selection Criteria:
We planned to include randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the influence of yoga practice on CHD outcomes in men and women (aged 18 years and over) with a diagnosis of acute or chronic CHD. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they had a follow-up duration of six months or more. We considered studies that compared one group practicing a type of yoga with a control group receiving either no intervention or interventions other than yoga.
Data Collection And Analysis:
Two authors independently selected studies according to prespecified inclusion criteria. We resolved disagreements either by consensus or by discussion with a third author.
Main Results:
We found no eligible RCTs that met the inclusion criteria of the review and thus we were unable to perform a meta-analysis.
Authors' Conclusions:
The effectiveness of yoga for secondary prevention in CHD remains uncertain. Large RCTs of high quality are needed.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management
01:27Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology