BACKGROUND: Whether yoga is effective in the cardiac rehabilitation of people with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga intervention on psychological symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and major cardiovascular risk factors in people with CAD. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (from the earliest date available to July 2023). Mean difference (MD), standardized MD (SMD), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Seventeen studies, with 5,698 patients, met the study criteria. Compared to control (no exercise), yoga resulted in improved depression MD -0.83 (95% CI -1.35 to -0.31), stress MD -3.83 (95% CI -4.8 to 2.86), HRQoL SMD 1.48 (95% CI 0.55 to 2.4), major cardiovascular risk factors (peak VO2 MD 1.7 mL/kg/min (95% CI 0.2 to 3.3), systolic blood pressure MD -3.2 mmHg (95% CI -5.9 to -0.5), and diastolic blood pressure MD -2.42 mmHg (95% CI -4.08 to -0.76)). CONCLUSIONS: Yoga was effective in the improvement of psychological symptoms, HRQoL, and cardiovascular risk factors.

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