The effects of yoga-based breathing techniques and meditation on outpatients' symptoms of COVID-19 and anxiety scores

Context: Decreasing the outpatients' symptoms of COVID-19 is essential. For relieving symptoms, some complementary approaches are suggested. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of yoga-based breathing techniques and meditation on outpatients' symptoms of COVID-19 and anxiety scores. Setting and Design: This interventional study was conducted on 110 women with positive results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-COV2 virus referred to PCR testing centers in Rafsanjan city, Iran, in 2021. Materials and Methods: The participants were assigned into intervention (n = 53) and control (n = 57) groups by simple randomization according to a computer-generated assignment list. In this study, the intervention group practiced 20-min yoga-based breathing techniques and 20-min meditation daily for a 6-day period, control group did not receive any contact till 6th day. The symptoms' severity and headache, myalgia, and anxiety scores were evaluated on the 1st and 6th days via call interview by demographic and disease symptoms' checklist and the Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Statistical Analysis Used: The obtained data were then reported as descriptive statistics and were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, t-test, McNemar's test, Mann–Whitney U-test, and multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: At six days after intervention, the group that practiced yoga-based breathing techniques and meditation had lower scores of headache (P < 0.001), myalgia (P < 0.001), and anxiety (P < 0.001) and lower severity of cough (P < 0.001), dyspnea (P = 0.019), and weakness (P = 0.006) than the control group. Conclusion: It appears that yoga-based breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation could be considered effective and easy complementary therapies in COVID-19 patients for reducing the symptom severity and anxiety level.