The Effect of Yoga Intervention on Psychological Symptoms, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People with Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Whether yoga is effective in the cardiac rehabilitation of people with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga intervention on psychological symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and major cardiovascular risk factors in people with CAD. We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (from the earliest date available to July 2023). Mean difference (MD), standardized MD (SMD), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Seventeen studies, with 5,698 patients, met the study criteria. Compared to control (no exercise), yoga resulted in improved depression MD −0.83 (95% CI: −1.35 to −0.31), stress MD −3.83 (95% CI: −4.8 to 2.86), HRQoL SMD 1.48 (95% CI: 0.55 to 2.4), major cardiovascular risk factors (peak VO2 MD 1.7 mL/kg/min [95% CI: 0.2 to 3.3], systolic blood pressure MD −3.2 mmHg [95% CI: −5.9 to −0.5], and diastolic blood pressure MD −2.42 mmHg [95% CI: −4.08 to −0.76]). Yoga was effective in the improvement of psychological symptoms, HRQoL, and cardiovascular risk factors.