Efficacy of pranayama in preventing COVID-19 in exposed healthcare professionals: A quasi-randomized clinical trial
Authors
Rakesh Sarwal
aAdvisor, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, New Delhi, India
Rajinder Dhamija
bProfessor and Head, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India
Khushbu Jain
cAssistant Professor, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, 68, Ashoka Road, Near Gole Dak Khana, New Delhi-110001, India
Ishwar Basavaraddi
dDirector, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, 68, Ashoka Road, Near Gole Dak Khana, New Delhi, 110001, India
Keywords:
COVID-19, Pranayama, Health care professionals, Yoga
Abstract
The global outbreak of COVID-19 has created a challenging situation, especially for the frontline Health Care Professionals (HCPs), who are routinely exposed and thus are at a higher risk of infection. Pranayama, a component of Yoga, is known to improve immune function and reduce infection. However, no clinical trial on the efficacy of Pranayama in preventing COVID-19 has yet been conducted.
Aim and objective
This quasi-randomized clinical trial assessed the efficacy of Pranayama in preventing COVID-19 infection in HCPs routinely exposed to COVID-19.
Methodology
The study was conducted at 5 different COVID-19 hospitals, India in year 2020. The inclusion criteria were being an HCP exposed to COVID-19 patients and being negative on antibody tests. 280 HCPs were recruited sequential and assigned to intervention and control groups. Of these, 250 HCPs completed the study. The intervention was twice daily practice, for 28 days, of specially designed Pranayama modules under the online supervision of Yoga instructors. The HCPs in the control group were advised to continue their normal daily routine, but no pranayama sessions. Participants who developed symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 were subjected to Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or Point of Care Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for confirmation of the diagnosis. All the participants were tested for antibodies to COVID-19 on 28th day of the intervention to detect any asymptomatic infection.
Results
The intervention (123) and control (127) groups had comparable demographics and baseline characteristics. At end of 28 days of intervention, nine participants in the control group and one in the intervention group developed COVID-19 (P-value: 0.01, Odds Ratio: 0.107, 95% CI: 0.86; Risk Ratio: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.89).
Conclusion
The intervention of twice daily practice of the Pranayama module for 28 days in HCPs might have made a noteworthy contribution and may have helped in preventing COVID-19 infection.
Keywords: COVID-19, Pranayama, Health care professionals, Yoga
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