Impact of Yoga Therapy on D-dimer Level in Asymptomatic Varicose Vein Disease – a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Varicose veins (VV) affect a significant portion of the population, particularly middle-aged men, causing discomfort and potential complications. Elevated D-dimer levels may indicate thrombotic risk in VV patients. Yoga therapy (YT) has emerged as a complementary approach for managing vascular disorders, but its impact on biomarkers like D-dimer remains unclear, especially in middle-aged men with VV. Material and Methods: This randomized controlled trial recruited 80 middle-aged men diagnosed with VV. Participants were equally and randomly assigned to a yoga therapy group (YTG) or a control group (CG). The YTG received tailored YT sessions three days a week for 12 weeks, focusing on specific asanas, pranayama techniques, and meditation. The CG continued with their usual activities. Outcome assessments included Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure, Heart rate (HR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and D-dimer levels. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention period for both groups. Results: Following the yoga intervention in varicose vein patients, significant improvements were observed compared to the CG. SBP decreased from 140 mmHg to 128 mmHg in the YTG, whereas in the CG, it decreased from 142 mmHg to 138 mmHg. Similarly, DBP decreased from 90 mmHg to 85 mmHg in the YTG, while in the CG, it decreased from 92 mmHg to 90 mmHg. Heart rate also showed improvement in both groups, with a decrease from 80 bpm to 70 bpm in the YTG and from 82 bpm to 78 bpm in the CG. Furthermore, levels of hs-CRP decreased from 3.5 mg/L to 2.8 mg/L following the intervention in the YTG, whereas in the CG, there was a slight increase from 3.6 mg/L to 3.7 mg/L. Moreover, D-dimer levels, indicative of thrombotic risk, decreased from 1.6 mg/L to 1.4 mg/L after the YT, whereas in the CG, they remained relatively stable at 1.7 mg/L before and after the intervention. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of YT as a non-invasive intervention for managing VV and reducing thrombotic risk in middle-aged men. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the mechanisms underlying the observed effects of yoga on biomarkers like D-dimer.