Saloň Adam, Schmid-Zalaudek Karin, Steuber Bianca, Rudlof Maximilian Elliot, Bartel Till Olaf, Mächler Petra, Dorr Andreas, Picha Rainer, Fredriksen Per Morten, Nkeh-Chungag Benedicta Ngwenchi, Goswami Nandu
Gravitational Physiology and Medicine Research Unit, Division of Physiology & Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2624 Lillehammer, Norway.
J Clin Med. 2025 Jan 3;14(1):232. doi: 10.3390/jcm14010232.
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death, and psychosocial stress is considered a contributing factor to these issues. With the rising number of heart surgeries, proper rehabilitation post-surgery is essential. Previous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of yoga and transcendental meditation on the cardiovascular system. This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of yoga and transcendental meditation on retinal microcirculation in cardiac patients before (admission), after (discharge), and following (3 weeks after discharge) rehabilitation. : This study examined changes in retinal microcirculation in three rehabilitation groups of patients after heart surgery. The control group received standard exercise therapy, while the meditation group incorporated 20 min of meditation, and the yoga group incorporated 20 min of yoga practice, twice per day for the duration of four weeks of rehabilitation. Retinal images were captured using a non-mydriatic digital retinal camera (Canon CR-2, Canon Medical Systems Europe B.V., Netherlands), and the microcirculation parameters central retinal artery equivalent, central retinal vein equivalent, and artery-to-vein ratio were analyzed using MONA REVA software ((version 2.1.1), VITO, Mol, Belgium). Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to evaluate differences between the three groups in the course of rehabilitation. : None of the parameters revealed significant differences in retinal microcirculation between the three rehabilitation groups. : The study evaluating changes in retinal microcirculation, as an indicator of central circulation in cardiac patients undergoing rehabilitation, did not observe any significant changes. As yoga and meditation are underestimated approaches in cardiac rehabilitation, this pilot study acts as a basis for providing preliminary information for future studies to encourage the research community to fill the gap in this area.
心血管疾病是主要的死亡原因，心理社会压力被认为是导致这些问题的一个因素。随着心脏手术数量的增加，术后进行适当的康复治疗至关重要。先前的研究已经证明了瑜伽和超觉静坐对心血管系统的积极影响。这项初步研究旨在调查瑜伽和超觉静坐对心脏病患者在康复前（入院时）、康复后（出院时）以及康复后（出院后3周）视网膜微循环的影响。：本研究检查了心脏手术后三组康复患者视网膜微循环的变化。对照组接受标准运动疗法，冥想组每天进行两次20分钟的冥想，瑜伽组每天进行两次20分钟的瑜伽练习，持续四周的康复期。使用非散瞳数字视网膜相机（佳能CR - 2，佳能医疗系统欧洲有限公司，荷兰）拍摄视网膜图像，并使用MONA REVA软件（版本2.1.1，比利时莫尔市VITO公司）分析视网膜中央动脉等效值、视网膜中央静脉等效值和动静脉比等微循环参数。采用重复测量方差分析来评估三组在康复过程中的差异。：三个康复组之间的视网膜微循环参数均未显示出显著差异。：这项评估视网膜微循环变化作为心脏病康复患者中心循环指标的研究未观察到任何显著变化。由于瑜伽和冥想在心脏康复中是被低估的方法，这项初步研究为未来的研究提供了初步信息，以鼓励研究界填补这一领域的空白。
