Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Rudlof, M.
Die Auswirkung von Meditation auf das Herzkreislaufsystem von Herz-Rehabilitationspatienten: eine Pilotstudie
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medizinische Universität Graz; 2022. pp. 83
[OPEN ACCESS]
FullText
- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Goswami Nandu
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading death cause worldwide and despite continuous progress of medical care the prevalence of CVD increases. A growing body of evidence indicates that the practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) positively affects the long-term outcome of CVD. While most of the studies address the issue of cardiovascular prevention or therapy, barely any research exists about the effects of TM in cardiac rehabilitation. Objectives: The aim of this diploma thesis is to find out if the additional practice of TM during a cardiac rehabilitation program of patients that suffered a cardiac event, positively affects the rehabilitation outcome. Hence, the hypothesis that performing TM by patients undergoing a 4-week cardiac rehabilitation program augments the recovery of cardiovascular parameters during and after the rehabilitation was tested. Methods: 20 volunteers attending a 4-week in-patient cardiac rehabilitation program were randomly assigned to group control (control) or group TM (TM). Cardiovascular parameters such as heart rate (HR), RR-interval (RRI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), stroke volume (SV), stroke volume index (SI), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), total peripheral resistance (TP) and total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) were assessed with the Task Force Monitor®. Measurements were performed at the beginning (Pre) and at the end (Post) of the rehabilitation and 4 weeks later (Follow-up). Results: Pre-Post: in both groups (n=18, males 89%, mean age 59.17 years, mean weight 87.50 kg, mean height 175.33 cm) the parameters RRI (p=0.05) and SBP (p=0.012) changed significantly. However, the magnitude of parameter changes was almost equal in both groups. Pre-Post-Follow-up: due to the low number of participants and several missing values no group comparison was performed. The total follow-up population (n=11, males 100%, mean age 61.27 years, mean weight 86.91 kg, mean height 176.18 cm) showed significant changes in HR (p=0.017), RRI (p=0.002), CO (p=0.003) and CI (p=0.003). Conclusion: Within one month of cardiac rehabilitation no additional positive effect could be achieved through the addition of TM to the rehabilitation program. However, cardiac parameters kept improving even one month after the rehabilitation in the whole follow-up population. As literature suggests that effects on the cardiovascular system through the practice of TM unfold in the longer term, future studies should comprise a longer follow-up.