Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation in the Hospital of Cittadella (Province of Padua), Italy

Abstract Issue Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of mortality in Western countries. Cardiac rehabilitation aims to reduce recurrence and mortality, as well as improving the quality of life in patients who have undergone Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle modification plays a crucial role in secondary prevention. The Hospital of Cittadella, in the province of Padua, has a Cardiology Department with a Haemodynamics and Interventional Cardiology and a Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit that services a population of 350.000 inhabitants. Description of the problem Approximately 160 of patients are eligible for cardiac rehabilitation per year, however 33% of patients cannot undergo standard rehabilitation for clinical conditions, due to motor difficulties of osteoarticular origin or comorbidity.Numerous studies have shown that the practice of yoga improves: - coronary risk factors, - biochemical and physical parameters, - anxiety, - depression. During 2024 a dedicated yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation project was activated, twice a week for 12 weeks under telemetric monitoring, for 53 eligible patients: 34 patients were enrolled, 28 have completed it. Biochemical/physical parameters are measured and tests and questionnaires are administered at the beginning and the end of yoga-based project and at the 3 and 6 month follow-up. Results The number of patients is not yet sufficient to allow an effective comparison of the clinical efficacy of yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation. However, in the dedicated questionnaires, the reduction of perceived anxiety and depressive symptoms are statistically related to the completion of the program, respectively with a p = 0.0818 OR 3.25 for anxiety-related symptoms and p = 0.0053 OR 6.60 for depressive symptoms. Lessons The involvement and participation of the enrolled patients and the results in the first year, in terms of mobility, physical strength, resistance and improved mood, encourage us to continue the study. Key messages • Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation improve quality of life and the subjective feeling of cardiac health in case of inability to standard rehabilitation. • Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms already from the first few sessions.