Meditation for Improved Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Implantable Defibrillators for Heart Failure- Pilot Study.
Dash Aditee, Malhotra Pankaj, Beri Neil, Pezeshkian Nayereh, Fan Dali, Uma N Srivatsa
Journal of atrial fibrillation 2020 DOI: 10.4022/jafib.2314 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 25 |
| Population | Patients with congestive heart failure and implantable cardioverter defibrillators |
| Intervention | Vipassana meditation |
| Duration | Mean follow-up 79 months |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Arrhythmias Heart failure |
| Key findings | Meditation was associated with a trend toward improved survival and reduced arrhythmias compared to usual care in CHF patients with ICDs. |
Abstract
Sympathetic activation is associated with congestive heart failure (CHF) and leads to adverse clinical events.We hypothesized that meditation by reducing emotional reactivity would have beneficial effect in reducing arrhythmias compared to control patients. Patients known to have CHF and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) were randomized to Vipassana meditation or usual care control group. Meditation group underwent meditation classes three times during the first week, thereafter every once two weeks. They were encouraged to practice meditation at least once everyday. The ICD was followed by clinic/ remote visits. Atrial (AA) and ventricular arrhythmias (VA) as well cardiac events were assessed in follow up. Chi square test was used to compare nominal variables and t test for continuous variables. Patients (n=25, 65% male, mean LVEF 25%, HTN 38%, Diabetes 12%, coronary artery disease 38%, NYHA class 2.2) were followed for 79 + 36 months. Comparing meditation vs control, survival was higher (88%vs 67%); there was less cumulative sustained AF episodes (mean 0.9, IQR 0-1 vs 2.5, IQR 2-4, p=0.045), sustained VT occurred (25% vs 55%, amiodarone use (none vs 44%), and VT ablation in 6.6% vs 33% in the meditation group. In this first pilot study of meditation in CHF patients with ICD, during long term follow up, there is a trend for improved survival and reduced arrhythmias in patients randomized to meditation.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Mindfulness-based emotional regulation for patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: A randomized pilot study of efficacy, applicability, and safety Cardiology Journal September 7, 2021
- The Impact of Vipassana Meditation on Health and Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence. Cureus September 1, 2025
Cites 11
- Heart Rate Variability, Cortisol and Attention Focus During Shamatha Quiescence Meditation. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback December 1, 2019
- Effect of Heartfulness cleaning and meditation on heart rate variability. Indian heart journal December 1, 2018
- Impact of short- and long-term mindfulness meditation training on amygdala reactivity to emotional stimuli. Neuroimage July 7, 2018
- The effectiveness of mindfulness meditation for nurses and nursing students: An integrated literature review. Nurse Education Today June 1, 2018
- Yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction and stress-related physiological measures: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology December 2017
and 6 more in the library