Clinically relevant effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in individuals with asthma.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 36177306 · doi:10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100509
What was done
A randomized controlled trial evaluated an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program (n = 35) compared to a wait-list control group (n = 34) in adults with asthma. Asthma outcomes, including the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and exhaled nitric oxide (an airway inflammation biomarker), were evaluated across six monthly follow-up visits. Psychological symptoms (distress, depression, anxiety) and mindfulness were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and study completion.
What was found
Asthma control improved significantly in the MBSR group compared to wait-list controls (p = .01, Cohen's d = 0.76), maintained at 4 months post-intervention. A clinically meaningful ACQ6 improvement occurred in 32% of MBSR participants compared to 12% of controls. Improvements were correlated with reduced distress (p = .043) and were greatest in participants with high baseline depressive symptoms (p = .023). MBSR also significantly reduced exhaled nitric oxide levels (p < .05), though exact biomarker values were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This trial suggests that MBSR can serve as an effective behavioral adjunct to standard asthma management to improve symptom control and reduce airway inflammation, particularly for patients with comorbid psychological distress.
Limits
The study had a small sample size (n = 69) and used an inactive wait-list control rather than an active control, leaving open the influence of non-specific attention effects. Absolute baseline and follow-up values for exhaled nitric oxide were omitted from the abstract.
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