Key result
Yoga reduces VPC burden by ~11 points vs standard care at 12 weeks.
Why the study?
Ventricular premature complexes have prognostic significance and yoga may modulate autonomic tone to improve arrhythmias and quality of life, but its efficacy in frequent VPCs was not established.
Does a structured yoga intervention reduce VPC burden and improve quality of life in patients with frequent ventricular premature complexes?
RCT (n=134)
Open-label (outcome assessors blinded)
1:1 computer-generated random sequence
No
Does a structured yoga intervention reduce VPC burden and improve quality of life in patients with frequent ventricular premature complexes?
Mean Difference: 11.45 (95% CI 1.81–21.09)
Absolute Event Rate: 6.55% vs 16.89%
p-value: p=0.02
Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“In what they believe to be the first randomized trial to systematically evaluate yoga as an add-on therapy in this population, the authors write that it 'may be useful to integrate a cost-effective, nonpharmacological intervention like yoga in the management of patients with frequent VPCs.”
A structured yoga intervention added to standard care significantly reduces VPC burden and improves quality of life and psychological well-being in patients with frequent ventricular premature complexes.
BACKGROUND: Ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) are common cardiac arrhythmias with prognostic significance depending on clinical context and arrhythmia burden. Yoga modulates autonomic tone and may improve cardiac dysautonomia, including arrhythmias, while enhancing quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of adjunctive yoga-based intervention on VPC burden, QoL, and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with frequent VPCs. METHODS: In this single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial, 134 patients with frequent VPCs (burden ≥5% on 24-hour Holter monitoring) were randomized (1:1) to a structured yoga intervention (n = 67) or standard care (n = 67) and followed for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was change in VPC burden. Secondary outcomes included QoL (36-Item Short Form Survey), left ventricular ejection fraction, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, psychological outcomes (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items), and heart rate variability. RESULTS: The baseline VPC burden was higher in the control group than in the yoga group (21.06 [10.48-34.67] vs 13.02 [8.87-21.60]). At 6 weeks, both groups demonstrated a reduction in VPC burden (control: 19.19 [7.50-30.70]; yoga: 11.62 [5.83-21.59]). A statistically significant between-group difference was observed at 12 weeks (P = 0.02). At 24 weeks, the yoga group showed significantly better 36-Item Short Form Survey scores across all domains and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items scores. CONCLUSIONS: Yoga as an adjunct therapeutic modality reduced VPC burden and improved QoL and psychological burden in patients with frequent VPCs. It may be useful to integrate a cost-effective, nonpharmacological intervention like yoga in the management of patients with frequent VPCs. (Effect of Yoga-based intervention on VPC burden, quality of life and LV functions in patients with Ventricular premature complexes [VPC]: A Randomized controlled Trial; CTRI/2021/06/034450).
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Sharma et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Frequent ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) (n=134). Structured yoga intervention vs. Standard care was evaluated on Change in VPC burden at 12 weeks (MD 11.45, 95% CI 1.81-21.09, p=0.02). A structured yoga intervention significantly reduced ventricular premature complex burden compared to standard care at 12 weeks (mean difference 11.45, 95% CI 1.81-21.09, p=0.02).
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