Abstract 16553: Effects of Digital Yoga on Physical and Psychological Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objectives: To determine effects of digitally delivered yoga on exercise capacity and patient-reported outcome measures. Methods: Two-arm randomised controlled study including participants with heart failure or conditions in need of intensive care from four hospitals in Sweden. Participants were randomised to a control group receiving individual exercise advice or to the intervention group (tele-yoga). The intervention lasted for 3 months and included live-streamed group-yoga via Zoom for 60 minutes twice/week and individual yoga for a minimum of 10 minutes/day using an app. The primary endpoint of the study was a combined endpoint consisting of change in functional capacity measured by 6 minute walk test (6MWT), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D index/VAS) and symptoms of anxiety and depression (hospital anxiety and depression scale - HADS). The primary end-point analysis after 3 months follow-up compared the change in the combined endpoint between the participants in the tele-yoga and control group. Secondary endpoints included separate analysis of functional capacity, health-related quality of life and symptoms of anxiety/depression. Results: 311 participants were randomized to tele-yoga (n=156) and control (n=155), mean age 66 years, 30% women, 80% diagnosed with heart failure. There was a significant improvement in favor of the tele-yoga group in the combined primary endpoint consisting of physical function, quality of life and anxiety and depression (p=.006). When analysing them separately, there was a significant improvement in 6MWT (p=.008) and quality of life in EQ-5D VAS (p=.014), but not in EQ-5D index (p=.12), and a significant difference between the groups in symptoms of anxiety and depression (p=.03). Median attendance to yoga-sessions was 20 sessions (maximum 24) and 69% of the study participants were adherent to >18 tele-yoga sessions. There were no adverse events reported during yoga sessions or app usage. Conclusion: Digitally delivered mind-body training such as tele-yoga showed a significant improvement in the combined end-point consisting of physical function, health-related quality of life and mental health. Tele-yoga may be a promising new form of rehabilitation for patients with heart failure.