Meditation for Improved Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Implantable Defibrillators for Heart Failure- Pilot Study.
Journal of atrial fibrillation January 1, 2020 Dash Aditee, Malhotra Pankaj, Beri Neil et al.
In a pilot randomized trial, patients with congestive heart failure and implantable cardioverter defibrillators were assigned to Vipassana meditation or usual care. Over a mean follow-up of 79 months, the meditation group showed higher survival (88% vs 67%), fewer cumulative sustained atrial fibrillation episodes (mean 0.9 vs 2.5), and lower rates of sustained ventricular tachycardia (25% vs 55%), amiodarone use (0% vs 44%), and VT ablation (6.6% vs 33%) compared to controls. The authors suggest a trend toward improved survival and reduced arrhythmias with meditation, though the small sample limits certainty.