Psychosocial and cardiac outcomes of yoga for ICD patients: a randomized clinical control trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adapted yoga (a mindfulness-based intervention) in reducing shock anxiety and improving psychosocial outcomes in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients compared to usual care.
Results Summary
The study found that adapted yoga significantly reduced shock anxiety and consequential anxiety while increasing self-compassion and mindfulness in ICD recipients. Additionally, the yoga group had a 32% lower risk of device-related firings compared to the control group.
Population
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients experiencing clinical symptoms of shock anxiety.
Effective Dosage
Weekly classes and home practice (specific duration/frequency not detailed beyond the 8-week program).
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
adapted yoga | decrease | total shock anxiety | ICD recipients | - | decreased | #1 |
adapted yoga | decrease | consequential anxiety | ICD recipients | - | decreased | #2 |
adapted yoga | increase | overall self-compassion | ICD recipients | - | greater | #3 |
adapted yoga | increase | mindfulness | ICD recipients | - | greater | #4 |
adapted yoga | decrease | expected number of DTV events | ICD recipients | - | significantly lower | #5 |
adapted yoga | decrease | device-related firings | ICD recipients | 32% | lower risk | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Because as many as 46% of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients experience clinical symptoms of shock anxiety, this randomized controlled study evaluated the efficacy of adapted yoga (vs usual care) in reducing clinical psychosocial risks shown to impact morbidity and mortality in ICD recipients. METHODS: Forty-six participants were randomized to a control group or an 8-week adapted yoga group that followed a standardized protocol with weekly classes and home practice. Medical and psychosocial data were collected at baseline and follow-up, then compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Total shock anxiety decreased for the yoga group and increased for the control group, t(4.43, 36), P < 0.0001, with significant differences between these changes. Similarly, consequential anxiety decreased for the yoga group but increased for the control group t(2.86,36) P = 0.007. Compared to the control, the yoga group had greater overall self-compassion, t(-2.84,37), P = 0.007, and greater mindfulness, t(-2.10,37) P = 0.04, at the end of the study. Exploratory analyses utilizing a linear model (R(2) = 0.98) of observed device-treated ventricular (DTV) events revealed that the expected number of DTV events in the yoga group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.0001). Compared to the control, the yoga group had a 32% lower risk of experiencing device-related firings at end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated psychosocial benefits from a program of adapted yoga (vs usual care) for ICD recipients. These data support continued research to better understand the role of complementary medicine to address ICD-specific stress in cardiac outcomes.