Efficacy of Ischemia Reversal Program in Stable Ischemic Heart Disease Patients to Improve Quality of Life

Background: Hypertension is one of the predominant risk factors of ischemic heart disease – appropriate control of blood pressure is key to both primary and secondary ischemic heart disease prevention. Despite comprehensive recommendations for management of ischemic heart disease and hypertension, the rising prevalence of ischemic heart disease remains undeterred. The Ischemia Reversal Program (IRP) combines panchakarma with nutrition therapy.

Aim: To assess the impact of IRP on patients diagnosed with ischemic heart disease with hypertension as an underlying comorbidity.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Madhavbaug Clinic, Chandrapur, Maharashtra from March 2018 to December 2021. Patients aged 40–75 years diagnosed with ischemic heart disease and hypertension who had completed at least 7 sessions of the IRP program over a 90 (±15) day duration were included in this study. Weight, body mass index, abdominal girth, glycated hemoglobin, systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements, and duke’s treadmill score readings on Day 1 and Day 90 were documented and compared. Patient adherence to pharmacotherapy was also studied.

Results: The mean age of the study population was 55.1 ± 7.35 years. Study findings revealed statistically significant improvements in weight, abdominal girth, glycosylated hemoglobin, body mass index, and diastolic blood pressure at the 90-day follow-up. Duke’s treadmill score also showed statistically significant improvement from -1.76 on Day 1 to 6.34 on Day 90.

Conclusion: Study findings reveal noticeable improvement in anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin as well as duke’s treadmill score. Moreover, patient dependence on pharmacotherapy also decreased. These findings are suggestive of IRP as alternative to conventional therapy advised for ischemic heart disease.