What does this research mean for the field?

Incorporating transcendental meditation or yoga into standard cardiac rehabilitation does not significantly change retinal microcirculation in patients recovering from heart surgery. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

January 3, 2025Open Access

Randomized Trial: A Pilot Study Investigating the Effects of Transcendental Meditation and Yoga Through Retinal Microcirculation in Cardiac Rehabilitation

ASAdam SaloňMedical University of Graz KSKarin Schmid‐ZalaudekMedical University of Graz BBBianca BrixMedical University of Graz

Structured PICO

Does transcendental meditation or yoga improve retinal microcirculation in cardiac patients after heart surgery undergoing rehabilitation?

Population

Cardiac patients after heart surgery undergoing rehabilitation

Intervention

Transcendental meditation (20 min twice per day) or yoga (20 min twice per day) for 4 weeks of rehabilitation

Comparator

Standard exercise therapy

Outcome

Changes in retinal microcirculation parameters (central retinal artery equivalent, central retinal vein equivalent, and artery-to-vein ratio) measured at admission, discharge, and 3 weeks after dischargesurrogate

In a pilot randomized trial of cardiac patients after heart surgery, adding transcendental meditation or yoga to standard rehabilitation did not significantly alter retinal microcirculation.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death, and psychosocial stress is considered a contributing factor to these issues. With the rising number of heart surgeries, proper rehabilitation post-surgery is essential. Previous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of yoga and transcendental meditation on the cardiovascular system. This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of yoga and transcendental meditation on retinal microcirculation in cardiac patients before (admission), after (discharge), and following (3 weeks after discharge) rehabilitation. Methods: This study examined changes in retinal microcirculation in three rehabilitation groups of patients after heart surgery. The control group received standard exercise therapy, while the meditation group incorporated 20 min of meditation, and the yoga group incorporated 20 min of yoga practice, twice per day for the duration of four weeks of rehabilitation. Retinal images were captured using a non-mydriatic digital retinal camera (Canon CR-2, Canon Medical Systems Europe B.V., Netherlands), and the microcirculation parameters central retinal artery equivalent, central retinal vein equivalent, and artery-to-vein ratio were analyzed using MONA REVA software ((version 2.1.1), VITO, Mol, Belgium). Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to evaluate differences between the three groups in the course of rehabilitation. Results: None of the parameters revealed significant differences in retinal microcirculation between the three rehabilitation groups. Conclusions: The study evaluating changes in retinal microcirculation, as an indicator of central circulation in cardiac patients undergoing rehabilitation, did not observe any significant changes. As yoga and meditation are underestimated approaches in cardiac rehabilitation, this pilot study acts as a basis for providing preliminary information for future studies to encourage the research community to fill the gap in this area.

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