Feasibility and acceptability of a yoga-based mind body intervention for women with a history of hypertensive disorder in pregnancy

Introduction

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy affect 5 to 10% of women and are a significant cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. This group of women have been shown to have an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature mortality. There are currently no interventions specifically targeting this at-risk group of women to reduce relevant risk factors and improve outcomes. In other populations of individuals at high CVD risk, studies suggest yoga may be effective in reducing CVD risk. This study examined the feasibility of yoga in contributing to the management of blood pressure postpartum.

Methods

A feasibility study was conducted. The primary objective was to examine recruitment, adherence, satisfaction, and safety of the yoga intervention. Secondary objectives included change in blood pressure, serological measures, quality of life and anxiety. Women were eligible from five to seven months postpartum. An online yoga intervention was delivered over eight weeks.

Results

Ten women (16% of those eligible) were recruited. All women completed the intervention. Compliance with the clinical outcome assessments ranged between 70 and 90%. There was high fidelity with intervention engagement. There were no significant changes over time in any clinical outcome, although a trend to overall improved quality of life (p=0.06) was seen. There were no adverse reactions reported.

Conclusion

Although uptake was low, women engaged well with postpartum yoga. Further research on yoga is needed to test effectiveness for CVD risk reduction for women with hypertension in the postpartum setting, involving an appropriately powered randomised controlled trial. The study was registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number ACTRN: 12622000450718).