Yoga-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Trial

This multicentre randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness and safety of Yoga-CaRe, a yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation program, among 3,959 patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction across 24 medical centres in India. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the 12-week Yoga-CaRe intervention or enhanced standard care with educational advice. The study assessed major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and self-rated health as co-primary outcomes. Although Yoga-CaRe did not significantly reduce MACE compared with standard care, it significantly improved self-rated health and facilitated a better return to pre-infarct daily activities without increasing adverse events. The findings suggest that Yoga-CaRe is a safe, low-cost, and feasible alternative for cardiac rehabilitation, particularly in settings where conventional rehabilitation services are limited or unavailable.