The effect of yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation program on the quality of life of patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Attention to the quality of life of patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is one of the priorities of nursing care. Although postoperative heart rehabilitation programs are performed in most centers, it does not seem to be sufficient to improve quality of life and require complementary programs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation programs on the quality of life of patients after CABG surgery.

The present study is an experimental study that was performed in the intensive care unit of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Shiraz in the first half of 2021. Participants were selected using convenience sampling and then randomly divided into two groups intervention and control. For the intervention group, a yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation program was performed virtually for one month. To collect data, the Ferrans, and Powers quality of life index - cardiac version was used.

There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics and quality of life scores before the intervention (P<0.05). Also, after the intervention, the difference between the mean score of quality of life between the two groups was significant (P<0.001). In the experimental group, the mean score of quality of life significantly improved from the pre-test to the post-test. but did not differ significantly in the control group. Importantly, this program affected all aspects of quality of life except mental health.

Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation has an effect on the quality of life of patients after CABG surgery, so it is suggested that this intervention be used to help improve the lives of these patients