title: Effect of yoga on arrhythmia burden, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: the YOGA My Heart Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of yoga on atrial fibrillation (AF) burden, quality of life (QoL), depression, and anxiety scores.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Yoga is known to have significant benefit on cardiovascular health. The effect of yoga in reducing AF burden is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  This single-center, pre-post study enrolled patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF with an initial 3-month noninterventional observation period followed by twice-weekly 60-min yoga training for next 3 months. AF episodes during the control and study periods as well as SF-36, Zung self-rated anxiety, and Zung self-rated depression scores at baseline, before, and after the study phase were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Yoga training reduced symptomatic AF episodes (3.8 ± 3 vs. 2.1 ± 2.6, p < 0.001), symptomatic non-AF episodes (2.9 ± 3.4 vs. 1.4 ± 2.0; p < 0.001), asymptomatic AF episodes (0.12 ± 0.44 vs. 0.04 ± 0.20; p < 0.001), and depression and anxiety (p < 0.001), and improved the QoL parameters of physical functioning, general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health domains on SF-36 (p = 0.017, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.019, and p < 0.001, respectively). There was significant decrease in heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure before and after yoga (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with paroxysmal AF, yoga improves symptoms, arrhythmia burden, heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety and depression scores, and several domains of QoL.
authors: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Kansas Hospital & Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. dlakkireddy@mac.md
authors: Dhanunjaya
authors: D
authors: Lakkireddy
authors: Donita
authors: D
authors: Atkins
authors: Jayasree
authors: J
authors: Pillarisetti
authors: Kay
authors: K
authors: Ryschon
authors: Sudharani
authors: S
authors: Bommana
authors: Jeanne
authors: J
authors: Drisko
authors: Subbareddy
authors: S
authors: Vanga
authors: Buddhadeb
authors: B
authors: Dawn
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015013:Yoga