Mind-Body Interventions for Individuals with Heart Failure: a Systematic Review of Randomized Trials.

BACKGROUND: The effects of mind-body interventions (MBIs) (e.g. Tai Chi, yoga, and meditation) for individuals with heart failure (HF) have not been systematically evaluated.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of MBIs in HF. We extracted participant characteristics, MBI procedure, outcomes assessed, and main results of English language RCTs before October 2016. We identified 24 RCTs (n=1314 participants) of nine MBI types: Tai Chi (n=7), yoga (n =4), relaxation (n =4), meditation (n=2), acupuncture (n=2), biofeedback (n=2), stress management (n=1), Pilates (n=1) and reflexology (n=1). Most (n=22, 95.8%) reported small-to-moderate improvements in quality of life (14/14 studies), exercise capacity (8/9 studies), depression (5/5 studies), anxiety and fatigue (4/4 studies), blood pressure (3/5 studies), heart rate (5/6 studies), heart rate variability (7/9 studies), and B-type natriuretic peptide (3/4 studies). Studies ranged from 4 minutes to 26 weeks and group sizes ranged from 8 to 65 patients per study arm.

CONCLUSIONS: Although wide variability exists in the types and delivery, RCTs of MBIs have demonstrated small-to-moderate positive effects on HF patients' objective and subjective outcomes. Future research should examine the mechanisms by which different MBIs exert their effects.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

KEYWORDS: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); heart failure; mind-body interventions; systematic review

PMID: 28939458 DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2017.09.008