Design of a Theory-Based Yoga Intervention

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), a broad diagnostic category encompassing hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke, is the leading cause of mortality in the United States and worldwide [1,2]. An estimated 92.1 million American adults (>1 in 3) are living with CVD; direct and indirect costs of CVD, including health expenditures and lost productivity, are estimated to total more than US$316 billion annually [1]. Older adults experience a disproportionate burden of CVD; approximately 69% of US adults aged 60 to 79 years, and 85% of those aged 80 years, have one or more types of CVD [3]. As the older adult population is projected to increase substantially in the next several decades, the socioeconomic costs of CVD will continue to rise [4]. To promote cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of CVD, the American Heart Association (AHA) endorses key health factors and behaviors, including: (a) maintaining a healthy blood pressure, (b) maintaining a healthy lipid profile, (c) maintaining a healthy blood glucose level, (d) maintaining a healthy body mass index, (e) engaging in physical activity, (f) consuming a healthy diet, and (g) avoiding tobacco use [5]. Despite knowledge of the health factors and behaviors contributing to cardiovascular health, the challenge of promoting sustained lifestyle change to reduce CVD risk remains unmet. Less than 9% of older adults (75 years of age) meet federal physical activity guidelines to promote cardiovascular and overall health [6]. As the population ages and the burden of CVD grows, there is a critical need for innovative approaches to cardiovascular health promotion among older adults.