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Effects of an 8-week intervention of anulom vilom pranayama combined with heartfulness meditation on psychological stress, autonomic function, inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial.

Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
July 1, 2024
Vivek Kumar Sharma et al. (9 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the effects of an 8-week AVPHFN (anulom vilom pranayama and heartfulness meditation) intervention on autonomic functions, emotional stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation markers in nurses.

Results Summary

The AVPHFN intervention significantly reduced cardiovascular parameters, perceived stress, depression, and anxiety, while improving autonomic function and reducing inflammatory markers like cortisol, hs-CRP, and cytokines. The results suggest parasympathodominance due to increased vagal activity.

Population

Nurses (healthcare workers) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective Dosage

Not specified (intervention involved AVPHFN practice).

Duration

8 weeks.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (21)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
heart rate
nurses
p<0.001
significant reduction in
#1
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
systolic blood pressure
nurses
p<0.001
significant reduction in
#2
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
diastolic blood pressure
nurses
p<0.001
significant reduction in
#3
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
mean arterial pressure
nurses
p<0.001
significant reduction in
#4
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
rate pressure product
nurses
p<0.001
significant reduction in
#5
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
perceived stress score
nurses
-
reduction in
#6
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
depression
nurses
-
reduction in
#7
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
anxiety
nurses
-
reduction in
#8
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
stress
nurses
-
reduction in
#9
8-week AVPHFN intervention
increase
total power
nurses
p<0.01
change in
#10
8-week AVPHFN intervention
increase
ratio of low frequency to high frequency
nurses
p=0.05
change in
#11
8-week AVPHFN intervention
increase
change in successive normal sinus (NN) intervals exceeds 50 ms
nurses
p<0.01
change in
#12
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
serum cortisol
nurses
-
significantly decreased
#13
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
nurses
-
significantly decreased
#14
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
tumor necrosis factor-alpha
nurses
-
significantly decreased
#15
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
interleukin (IL)-1
nurses
-
significantly decreased
#16
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
IL-6
nurses
-
significantly decreased
#17
8-week AVPHFN intervention
decrease
telomerase
nurses
-
significantly decreased
#18
8-week AVPHFN intervention
increase
psychophysiological profile
nurse group of health-care workers
-
improved
#19
8-week AVPHFN intervention
increase
autonomic profile
nurse group of health-care workers
-
improved
#20
8-week AVPHFN intervention
increase
biochemistry profile
nurse group of health-care workers
-
improved
#21
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Health care workers were exposed to huge stress during COVID-19 pandemic affecting their physical and mental health. Practice of anulom vilom pranayama and heartfulness meditation (AVPHFN) can improve mental and physical health and counter stress. The present study explored the effect of 8-week AVPHFN intervention on autonomic functions, emotional stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation markers in the nurse group of health-care givers. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial where 50 nurses underwent AVPHFN and 50 participated as controls. At baseline and after 8 week intervention of AVPHFN anthropometric parameters, cardiovascular parameters, autonomic function including time and frequency domain parameters, biochemical parameters, and psychological stress using the questionnaire were assessed. RESULTS: Forty nurses in AVPHFN group and 46 in control group completed the study. AVPHFN intervention resulted in a significant reduction in cardiovascular parameters heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and rate pressure product (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively), perceived stress score and depression, anxiety, and stress scale psychological variables of depression, and stress compared to the control group. Total power, ratio of low frequency to high frequency and change in successive normal sinus (NN) intervals exceeds 50 ms (p<0.01, p=0.05, and p<0.01 respectively) suggesting parasympathodominance due to higher vagal efferent activity. Serum cortisol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and telomerase significantly decreased in AVPHFN group post intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Eighty-week intervention of AVPHFN improved psychophysiological, autonomic and biochemistry profile of nurse group of health-care workers. AVPHFN module may be beneficial for curtailing stress and improving well-being.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansMeditationOxidative StressCOVID-19AdultFemaleStress, PsychologicalMaleBiomarkersAutonomic Nervous SystemHealth PersonnelHeart RateInflammationMiddle Aged
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality80/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.43
Normalized Score0.70
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