Effect of Yoga on Cardiac Autonomic Function Tests in Obese and Non-Obese Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Comparative and Interventional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v29i1.960Keywords:
Yoga, Heart rate variability, Cardiac autonomic function, Obesity, Myocardial infarction, Lipid profileAbstract
Background: Obesity and myocardial infarction (MI) both weaken the nervous control of the heart. Low heart rate variability (HRV) after MI is linked with higher mortality. This study compared HRV and lipid profile in obese and non-obese MI patients, and tested the effect of 12 weeks of yoga in obese MI patients.
Methods: This hospital-based study at Index Medical College, Malwanchal University, Indore included 100 obese MI patients (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²), 100 non-obese MI patients (BMI 18.5–22.9 kg/m²) and 100 healthy controls, aged 35–65 years. Fifty obese MI patients did supervised yoga for 12 weeks along with standard care. HRV (SDNN, RMSSD, LF/HF ratio), lipid profile, HbA1c, Troponin T, CK-MB and QTc were measured. Welch's t-test and the paired t-test were used.
Results: Obese MI patients had lower SDNN (69.9 ± 6.1 vs 83.6 ± 17.9 ms) and RMSSD (17.5 ± 4.9 vs 51.0 ± 11.1 ms) than non-obese MI patients (p < 0.001). They also had higher LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, CK-MB and QTc, and lower HDL (all p < 0.001). After yoga, LDL fell by 8.7%, total cholesterol by 22.6% and triglycerides by 30.5%, and HDL rose by 19.5% (all p < 0.001). HRV and BMI did not change significantly.
Conclusion: Obese MI patients have poorer HRV and a worse lipid profile than non-obese MI patients. Twelve weeks of yoga improved the lipid profile but not HRV. Yoga is a useful add-on to standard care after MI.
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