Meditation beneficial for CAD patients

In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), augmenting their cardiac rehabilitation regimen with meditation may lead to improved quality of life (QoL), a study has shown.

“It is common to feel low and anxious after being diagnosed with a heart condition,” said study author Ana Luisa Vitorino Monteiro, a meditation teacher from the University of Lisbon Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Centre, Portugal. “[However,] psychological risk factors increase the risk of CAD and contribute to poorer QoL and worst cardiovascular prognosis.”

“Stress, anxiety, and depression deteriorate the cardiovascular system through psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinology system and behavioural pathways,” she continued. “Our study suggests that meditation could be a useful addition to standard exercise rehabilitation.”

Monteiro and colleagues aimed to evaluate the effects of meditation as a stress management strategy in a traditional cardiovascular rehab programme. Forty CAD patients (mean age 65 years, 80 percent male) completed all requirements and were included in the analyses. Participants have been attending a thrice-weekly, exercise-based cardiovascular rehab programme (usual care) for at least 6 months. Patients were randomized 1:1 to attend usual care either alone or in combination with meditation for 4 months. [Eur J Prev Cardiol 2023;30(Suppl_1):i312]

The meditation technique employed was Karuna, which focuses on conscient breathing and compassion meditation. During the first month, Karuna was practiced for 90 minutes weekly. In the ensuing 3 months, participants in the meditation group were instructed to meditate for 20 minutes daily on their own or with video support, with a weekly follow-up call. By the end of month 4, those receiving usual care were offered the same meditation programme.

The Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and HeartQoL questionnaire were used to evaluate stress, anxiety, depression, and QoL, respectively, at baseline and after 4 months.

Between baseline and end of study, the average depression score dropped in the meditation arm by 44 percent. Among those who received usual care only, the corresponding reduction was only 2.9 percent. A comparison between arms yielded a p-value of <0.001.

There were also greater reductions in anxiety (–30 percent vs –3 percent; p=0.04) and stress (–31 percent vs –3 percent; p=0.05) levels in the meditation vs the usual-care arm by month 4.

The emotional dimension of QoL increased by 60 percent in the meditation arm whereas the usual-care arm saw a reduction of 2 percent (p<0.001). Conversely, there were no changes in physical QoL in both study arms.

The start of healthier lifestyle choices

Cardiovascular disease has been associated with an increased risk of mental health conditions. Patients with both cardiac and mental health problems need additional support to enhance their adherence to lifestyle changes and medical treatments. [Eur Heart J 2021;42:3227-3337; Am J Cardiol 2009;103:1629-1634]

“In our study, meditation has proved to be an additional practice with effective reduction on stress, anxiety, and depression levels, as well as increasing QoL for patients with CAD who are attending a long-term cardiovascular rehabilitation programme,” said Monteiro.

“Meditation is easy to do, can be done almost anywhere, and does not require any equipment,” she added. “Our study shows that meditation can improve psychological symptoms and QoL in patients with heart disease, which we hope could also be the start of making healthier lifestyle choices.”