The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (unclear allocation concealment and lack of blinding), and by imprecise results (few patients and outcome events).
A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 11 studies with a total of 800 adults examining yoga for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Half of the subjects were at high risk of CVD. There were variations in the style and duration of yoga and the follow-up of the interventions ranged from 3 to 8 months. No study reported cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality or non-fatal events. It was impossible to combine studies statistically for systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol due to substantial heterogeneity between studies. Yoga improved diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol with no difference between groups for LDL cholesterol (table T1). None of the included studies reported adverse events, the occurrence of type 2 diabetes or costs. Quality of life was measured in 3 studies but the results were inconclusive.
| Outcome | MD (95% CI)* | Participants (studies) |
|---|---|---|
| * Mean difference (95% confidence intervals); change from baseline | ||
| Diastolic blood pressure | -2.90 (-4.52 to -1.28) mmHg | 444 (8 studies) |
| LDL cholesterol | -0.09 (-0.48 to 0.30) mmol/l | 207 (5 studies) |
| HDL cholesterol | 0.08 (0.02 to 0.14) mmol/l | 207 (5 studies) |
| Triglycerides | -0.27 (-0.44 to -0.11) mmol/l | 207 (5 studies) |
Another Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 on yoga for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease found no eligible RCTs that met the inclusion criteria of the review.
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