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A supervised yoga-based cardiac rehab program improved quality of life and physical function in heart failure patients, according to the Yoga-CaRe trial. Compared to standard care, yoga participants scored better on well-being measures and walked farther at 3 months. However, the program didn't significantly reduce hard clinical events like death or hospitalization.
The Yoga-CaRe trial, presented at the American Heart Association 2026 Scientific Sessions, found that a supervised yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation program meaningfully improved quality of life (QoL) and functional outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Over 3,400 patients across 16 centers in India were randomized to either the yoga program or enhanced standard care, with the yoga group receiving 20 supervised sessions over 3 months blending in-person, virtual, and at-home instruction.
While the intervention didn't significantly reduce the composite endpoint of all-cause death, hospitalization, or stroke (hazard ratio 0.90), the QoL and functional gains were clear and durable. A per-protocol analysis also suggested that more frequent home practice (≥5 days/week or ≥255 min/week) was linked to approximately 28% lower cumulative MACE incidence over 24 months.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With cardiac rehab attendance notoriously low, yoga offers an engaging, adaptable alternative that demonstrably improves patient well-being — even as researchers continue to explore its impact on hard clinical outcomes.
