Online yoga in myeloproliferative neoplasm patients: results of a randomized pilot trial to inform future research.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the limited efficacy of a 12-week online yoga intervention on symptom burden and quality of life in MPN patients and assess the feasibility of remotely collecting inflammatory biomarkers.
Results Summary
The study found small to moderate effects of online yoga on sleep disturbance, pain intensity, anxiety, and depression, with a notable decrease in TNF-α levels. Remote blood collection was deemed feasible, though larger trials are needed to confirm efficacy.
Population
Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients
Effective Dosage
60 minutes per week of yoga
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a 12-week online yoga intervention | decrease | sleep | MPN patients | d = -0.26 to -0.61 | demonstrated small effects | #1 |
a 12-week online yoga intervention | decrease | pain | MPN patients | d = -0.34 to -0.51 | demonstrated small effects | #2 |
a 12-week online yoga intervention | decrease | anxiety | MPN patients | d = -0.27 to -0.37 | demonstrated small effects | #3 |
a 12-week online yoga intervention | decrease | depression | MPN patients | d = -0.53 to -0.78 | demonstrated a moderate effect | #4 |
a 12-week online yoga intervention | decrease | TNF-α | online yoga participants | -1.3 ± 1.5 pg/ml | there was a decrease | #5 |
online yoga | decrease | TNF-α | online yoga participants | large | the effect size of the intervention on TNF-α was large | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients suffer from significant symptoms, inflammation and reduced quality of life. Yoga improves these outcomes in other cancers, but this hasn't been demonstrated in MPNs. The purpose of this study was to: (1) explore the limited efficacy (does the program show promise of success) of a 12-week online yoga intervention among MPN patients on symptom burden and quality of life and (2) determine feasibility (practicality: to what extent a measure can be carried out) of remotely collecting inflammatory biomarkers. METHODS: Patients were recruited nationally and randomized to online yoga (60 min/week of yoga) or wait-list control (asked to maintain normal activity). Weekly yoga minutes were collected with Clicky (online web analytics tool) and self-report. Those in online yoga completed a blood draw at baseline and week 12 to assess inflammation (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]). All participants completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, sexual function, total symptom burden, global health, and quality of life at baseline, week seven, 12, and 16. Change from baseline at each time point was computed by group and effect sizes were calculated. Pre-post intervention change in inflammation for the yoga group was compared by t-test. RESULTS: Sixty-two MPN patients enrolled and 48 completed the intervention (online yoga = 27; control group = 21). Yoga participation averaged 40.8 min/week via Clicky and 56.1 min/week via self-report. Small/moderate effect sizes were generated from the yoga intervention for sleep disturbance (d = - 0.26 to - 0.61), pain intensity (d = - 0.34 to - 0.51), anxiety (d = - 0.27 to - 0.37), and depression (d = - 0.53 to - 0.78). A total of 92.6 and 70.4% of online yoga participants completed the blood draw at baseline and week 12, respectively, and there was a decrease in TNF-α from baseline to week 12 (- 1.3 ± 1.5 pg/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Online yoga demonstrated small effects on sleep, pain, and anxiety as well as a moderate effect on depression. Remote blood draw procedures are feasible and the effect size of the intervention on TNF-α was large. Future fully powered randomized controlled trials are needed to test for efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered with clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT03503838 ) on 4/19/2018.