Yoga‑CaRe Cardiac Rehabilitation Trial Overview

The Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC), with funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research, coordinated a large‑scale yoga‑based cardiac rehabilitation study (Yoga‑CaRe) led by Prof. Dorairaj Prabhakaran, MD, DM, Executive Director of CCDC and President‑Elect of the World Heart Federation. Presented as a late‑breaking science session at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Chicago on 7 November 2026, the trial is described as the largest cardiac rehabilitation trial globally.

Study Design and Intervention

The randomized trial enrolled approximately 3,500 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) from 16 Indian hospitals. Participants were allocated to either enhanced standard care—three health‑education sessions using a “Healthy Living with Heart Failure” booklet over three months—or the Yoga‑CaRe program. The Yoga‑CaRe intervention comprised three components: (a) health education with the same booklet, (b) guided behaviour‑change counseling focused on lifestyle risk‑factor modification, and (c) a standardized yoga regimen including asanas, pranayama, and meditation/relaxation tailored to each patient’s exercise capacity. A board‑certified Yoga & Naturopathy practitioner delivered the program.

Patients received 20 supervised sessions (both in‑person and online) over three months and were instructed to practice yoga at home for 50–55 minutes daily for up to 24 months. Median attendance was 19 supervised sessions; home practice averaged five days per week for 35–40 minutes per day (approximately 255 minutes per week).

Primary Outcomes

At three months, the Yoga‑CaRe group demonstrated statistically and clinically significant improvements compared with control:

  • Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) score improved by 8.1 units.
  • Six‑minute walk distance increased by 25.5 meters.
  • Quality‑adjusted utility index rose by 0.05 points.

These benefits persisted through the 24‑month follow‑up.

Clinical Events and Additional Benefits

The composite clinical event rate (death, hospitalization, stroke) was numerically lower in the Yoga‑CaRe arm, showing a 10 % reduction, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Participants also exhibited notable reductions in frailty, increased tobacco cessation, and caregivers reported improved quality of life with reduced depression.

Expert Commentary

Prof. SC Manchanda, former Head of Cardiology at AIIMS New Delhi and Senior Consultant Cardiologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, described yoga as a “lifestyle polypill” and highlighted the program’s success in enhancing physical activity, diet, and avoidance of tobacco/alcohol. Prof. Ambuj Roy, Department of Cardiology and Head of Skill, e‑Learning and Telemedicine Facility at AIIMS New Delhi and co‑lead of the study, emphasized that the trial addresses the major gap in cardiac rehabilitation access in India and validates traditional practices through rigorous scientific testing.

Publication Details

The press release was issued by the Centre for Chronic Disease Control on 9 November 2026 (11:11 IST) and distributed via NewsVoir under a PTI arrangement.