Effect of Bhramari Pranayama intervention on stress, anxiety, depression and sleep quality among COVID 19 patients in home isolation

Thanalakshmi Jagadeesan; Archana R; Kannan R; Timsi Jain; Aadhyyanth R Allu; Tamil Selvi G; M Maveeran; Maheshkumar Kuppusamy

doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2022.100596

Effect of Bhramari Pranayama intervention on stress, anxiety, depression and sleep quality among COVID 19 patients in home isolation

J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2022 Jul-Sep;13(3):100596. doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2022.100596. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Authors

Thanalakshmi Jagadeesan¹, Archana R¹, Kannan R², Timsi Jain³, Aadhyyanth R Allu⁴, Tamil Selvi G¹, M Maveeran⁵, Maheshkumar Kuppusamy⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Thanadalam, India.
² Department of General Medicine, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Thanadalam, India.
³ Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Thanadalam, India.
⁴ Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
⁵ Department of Naturopathy, Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
⁶ Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College & Hospital, Chennai, India. Electronic address: doctor.mahesh1985@gmail.com.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 outbreak is considered to be a major public health concern as it has a negative impact on the patient's psychological health. In addition, patients under home isolation might be more panic and in stress. In this study, we examined the effect of Bhramari Pranayama (Bhr.P) intervention on patients' psychological distress during home isolation.

Methods: Ninety-two asymptomatic COVID-19 patients were recruited from the host hospital and willing patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria (n = 42) were selected for the study. The patients were given Bhr.P intervention (20 min) through online for 15 days. Participants were assessed with Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) at baseline and post-intervention.

Results: Bhr.P practice has shown a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in DASS-21 score of depression, anxiety and stress. In addition, the patients stated significant improvement in quality of sleep (PSQI; p < 0.05) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF; p < 0.05) after the intervention.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Bhr.P intervention had a positive impact on psychological health as well as quality of sleep among the COVID-19 patients during home isolation. However, it needs to be confirmed by multi-site randomized controlled trials.Clinical trial registration: CTRI/2021/04/032845.

Keywords: COVID-19; Depression; Isolation; Pranayama; Sleep quality; Stress; Yoga.