Key result
Yoga-based cardiac rehab trial protocol targets endothelial function and exercise capacity in HFrEF.
Why the study?
Heart failure remains a major global health challenge with limited access to comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation in low-resource settings, and yoga may offer a culturally contextualised adjunctive therapy.
Does Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation improve endothelial function and functional exercise capacity in patients with HFrEF?
RCT (n=78)
Open-label, blinded-endpoint
1:1
Does Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation improve endothelial function and functional exercise capacity in patients with HFrEF?
This study protocol outlines a mechanistic trial to evaluate the effects of yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation on endothelial function, exercise capacity, and gene expression in patients with HFrEF.
Yoga-CaRe effects on endothelial function and gene expression in systolic HF remain untested; this protocol leaves open mechanistic insights and clinical adoption.
INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) remains a major global health challenge, particularly in low-resource settings where access to comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is limited. Yoga, a culturally contextualised mind-body intervention, holds promise as an adjunctive therapy in CR. The Yoga-EndOmics study aims to evaluate the effects of Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation (Yoga-CaRe) on gene expression, endothelial function, vascular biomarkers and clinical outcomes in systolic HF, providing mechanistic insights into its potential integration into conventional cardiac rehabilitation. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) mechanistic trial enrolling 78 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a structured Yoga-CaRe intervention or enhanced standard care for 3 months. The Yoga-CaRe group will attend 20 supervised sessions with guided home practice involving tailored asanas, pranayama and meditation. Primary outcomes are changes in endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and functional exercise capacity at 3 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in arterial compliance and stiffness, circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation, and immediate changes in global gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells following the Yoga-CaRe intervention. Data will be analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for between-group comparisons and significant analysis of microarray (SAM) for global gene expression profiles. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: ) and is registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences and stakeholder engagement platforms to inform future integrative strategies in HF management. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CTRI/2023/12/060758.
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Shetty et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (n=78). Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation (Yoga-CaRe) vs. Enhanced standard care was evaluated on Changes in endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and functional exercise capacity at 3 months. This is a study protocol for a randomized trial evaluating the effects of Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation on endothelial function and exercise capacity in patients with HFrEF; no results are reported.
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