The effect of yogic breathing (Pranayama) on heart rate and blood pressure in patients with hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IF 2 Q3 CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS

Indian heart journal Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-22 DOI:10.1016/j.ihj.2026.01.004

Yogapriya Chidambaram, Pavitraa Saravana Kumar, Swetharajan Gunasekar, Laxminarasimha Reddy Kundoor, Maheshkumar Kuppusamy, Madhesh Kasi, Ambalam M. Chandrasekaran, Sadhanandham Shanmugasundaram, Sankaran Ramesh, Thanikachalam Sadagopan, Nitish Naik, Ambuj Roy, Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Nagendra Boopathy Senguttuvan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Systemic hypertension is a major contributor to global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Effective management combines pharmacological and lifestyle interventions. Pranayama, a yogic breathing technique, may modulate cardiovascular function, but its impact on hypertension remains uncertain.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024597502) included RCTs from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov up to April 2025. We assessed Risk of bias using Cochrane RoB 2, and pooled effects were reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Seven RCTs (683 participants) showed a significant reduction in the primary outcome, heart rate (SMD = −0.43; 95 % CI: −0.52 to −0.34; I² = 0 %). Systolic BP decreased significantly under fixed-effects (SMD = −0.72), while diastolic BP and HRV improvements were modest.

Conclusion

Pranayama lowers heart rate and may modestly reduce blood pressure, supporting its role as a safe, adjunctive therapy pending larger standardized trials.

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瑜伽呼吸（调息）对高血压患者心率和血压的影响：系统回顾和荟萃分析。

全身性高血压是全球心血管发病率和死亡率的主要原因。有效的管理结合了药理学和生活方式干预。调息，一种瑜伽呼吸技术，可能调节心血管功能，但其对高血压的影响仍不确定。方法：遵循PRISMA指南（PROSPERO: CRD42024597502）进行系统评价和荟萃分析，纳入截至2025年4月来自PubMed、Cochrane Library、Scopus和ClinicalTrials.gov的随机对照试验。我们使用Cochrane RoB 2评估偏倚风险，合并效应以95%置信区间（ci）的标准化平均差异（SMDs）报告。结果：7项随机对照试验（683名参与者）显示主要结局心率显著降低（SMD = -0.43; 95% CI: -0.52至-0.34;I2 = 0%）。固定效应组收缩压显著降低（SMD = -0.72），而舒张压和HRV的改善较为温和。结论：调息可以降低心率并适度降低血压，支持其作为一种安全的辅助疗法的作用，有待于更大规模的标准化试验。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Indian heart journal CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS-

CiteScore

2.60

自引率

6.70%

发文量

审稿时长

52 days

期刊介绍： Indian Heart Journal (IHJ) is the official peer-reviewed open access journal of Cardiological Society of India and accepts articles for publication from across the globe. The journal aims to promote high quality research and serve as a platform for dissemination of scientific information in cardiology with particular focus on South Asia. The journal aims to publish cutting edge research in the field of clinical as well as non-clinical cardiology - including cardiovascular medicine and surgery. Some of the topics covered are Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease, Hypertension, Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Valvular Heart Disease, Pulmonary Hypertension and Infective Endocarditis. IHJ open access invites original research articles, research briefs, perspective, case reports, case vignette, cardiovascular images, cardiovascular graphics, research letters, correspondence, reader forum, and interesting photographs, for publication. IHJ open access also publishes theme-based special issues and abstracts of papers presented at the annual conference of the Cardiological Society of India.