Three-step rhythmic breathing exercise and COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

  1. Apurvakumar Pandya
  2. Dileep Mavalankar
  3. Pravin Maithia

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Abstract

Introduction

The present study assessed the prevalence of COVID-19 among people practicing three-step rhythmic breathing (3SRB) exercise and those who were not practicing any breathing exercises, including 3SRB exercise.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted. Data was collected using a self-constructed online google survey tool from July 2020 to August 2020.

Results

Out of a total 1083 sample, a higher proportion of the participants (41.3%) belonged to the 34-49 years age group, followed by the age group of 50-65 (32.5%). The sample was almost equally distributed; about 51.9% of the population was male, and 48.4% were female. The COVID-19 positivity was recorded almost double (3.1%) in groups not practicing 3SRB exercises compared to a group (1.3%) practicing 3SRB exercises. Furthermore, the practice of 3SRB was significantly associated with a lower percentage of COVID-19 infection (p=0.046).

Conclusions

Practice of 3SRB is significantly associated with a lower percentage of COVID-19 infection. A future study with a robust methodology is warranted to validate the findings of this study and determine the effects of 3SRB on physiological and biological markers.

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  1. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2021.07.07.21259527: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Ethicsnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    The data entry was done using Microsoft Office Excel 2019.
    Microsoft Office Excel
    suggested: (Microsoft Excel, RRID:SCR_016137)
    All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 23.0 software (SPSS, Inc).
    SPSS
    suggested: (SPSS, RRID:SCR_002865)
    Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
    suggested: (SPSS, RRID:SCR_002865)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    Strength and limitations of the study: To the best of our knowledge, the study is the first to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 infection among people practicing 3SRB and those who were not practicing. Our study has some notable limitations. First, we compared individuals practicing the 3SRB exercise with non-practicing individuals. The data collection was facilitated through volunteers of 3SRB exercise groups, which may introduce participant selection bias. Therefore, our results should be interpreted carefully. Second, we have used self-reported COVID-19 positivity, and not performed COVID-19 tests may present self-reporting bias. This may have generated a socially desirable response, and many might have intentionally hidden their status of COVID-19 infection due to prevalence stigma. Third, the 3SRB exercise emerged as beneficial in protecting them from COVID-19; however, the findings can not be easily attributable only to 3SRB as confounding variables such as yoga, meditation, pranayama, and herbs might have influenced the outcomes. Finally, a cross-sectional study design cannot establish causality between various socio-demographic factors and COVID-19.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    Results from scite Reference Check: We found no unreliable references.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  2. Version published to 10.1101/2021.07.07.21259527v1 on medRxiv