Advantage of meditation over exercise in reducing cold and flu illness is related to improved function and quality of life

Chidi N Obasi, Roger Brown, Tola Ewers, Shari Barlow, Michele Gassman, Aleksandra Zgierska, Christopher L Coe, Bruce Barrett, Chidi N Obasi, Roger Brown, Tola Ewers, Shari Barlow, Michele Gassman, Aleksandra Zgierska, Christopher L Coe, Bruce Barrett

Abstract

Purpose: To examine whether apparent advantages following training in meditation over exercise can be attributed to specific symptoms, functional impairments, or quality-of-life indicators assessed by the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS-24).

Methods: Results from the randomized controlled trial "Meditation or Exercise for Preventing Acute Respiratory Illness" showed mean global severity and total days of illness were worse in control (358, 8·9) compared with exercise (248, 5·1) or meditation (144, 5·0). Global severity of illness was estimated using area under the curve from daily self-reported severity scores on the WURSS-24. For this project, we estimated within-group WURSS item-level severity and between-group effect sizes (Cohen's "d" statistic) relative to control. The item-level effect sizes were grouped into (i) symptom and (ii) function and quality of life domains.

Results: Among the three groups, mediators showed the lowest severity estimates for 21 of 22 WURSS items. Item-level Cohen's "d" indicated most benefit was evident in WURSS items representing function and quality of life. Compared with exercise, meditation fostered larger reductions in illness severity, although due mostly to improved function and the quality of life domain (d=-0·33, P<0·001) compared with symptom domain (d=-0·22, P<0·001).

Conclusions: The apparent advantage of training in meditation over exercise for reducing cold and flu illness is explained more by improved function and quality of life than by a reduction in symptom severity.

Keywords: Acute respiratory infection; exercise; function and quality of life; meditation.

© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean global severity and duration of illness from meditation or exercise for preventing acute respiratory illness (MEPARI) study. AUC = Area under the curve severity estimates calculated as trapezoidal approximations using daily scores on Wisconsin Respiratory Symptom Survey and duration of illness. Duration of illness calculated in hours and minutes and then converted to decimalized days of reported illness.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Graphical display of mean WURSS †item severity estimates [Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey data from participants with acute respiratory infection (ARI) illness] item severity estimates. Global item severity estimates calculated using area under the curve trapezoidal approximation of the WURSS scores and duration of illness. ‡Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey data from participants with ARI illness. Global item severity estimates calculated using area‐under‐the‐curve trapezoidal approximation of the WURSS scores and duration of illness.

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