Cade 2010.
| Methods | RCT | |
| Participants | HIV‐infected men and women who were 18 to 70 years old were recruited from a clinical trials unit and local infectious diseases clinics. 60 participants were randomly assigned to 2 arms ‐ yoga practice or standard care Inclusion criteria: documented HIV status, stable and with no plans to change current cART, CD4+ T‐cell count > 2000 cells/ml, plasma HIV RNA < 15,000 copies/ml and at least 1 of the following CVD risk factors: dyslipidaemia, central adiposity, glucose intolerance/insulin resistance or hypertension Exclusion criteria: chronic hepatitis B or active hepatitis C virus infection, diabetes, male hypogonadism, hypo‐ or hyperthyroidism, pregnant or plans to become pregnant, prior MI, unstable angina, heart failure, coronary artery disease, resting ST‐segment depression > 1 mm, coronary artery bypass graft or stroke and active substance abuse 34 participants were randomised to yoga and 26 to standard care The paper was published in the USA |
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| Interventions | Yoga group: Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga was taught and practised. This follows progressive steps that required adherence, self control, mental focus, self awareness and physical resilience. All sessions emphasised the proper use of aligned postures, controlled breathing, focused gaze and the regulation of prana through the use of bandhas, strength building, increased flexibility, large muscle movement, asymmetrical movements and restorative relaxation. Yoga sessions were standardised and were held 2 to 3 times/week for approximately 60 minutes/session for 20 weeks. Participants initially received individual instruction but were then encouraged to practise at home (at least once a week) Standard care: regular routine visits to their physician, no added physical activity, no changes in cART and no added medications for hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia or hypertension Follow‐up was 20 weeks |
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| Outcomes | Blood pressure, lipid levels, QoL | |
| Notes | We contacted authors for extra blood pressure and lipid data for each point at which these were measured. The authors responded with the data requested | |
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Not stated |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Not stated |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | Not stated but it is difficult, if not impossible, to blind participants and personnel to behavioural interventions such as exercise |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Not stated |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Insufficient information to judge |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | Insufficient information to judge |
| Other bias | Unclear risk | Insufficient information to judge |