Digital Mindfulness Program May Reduce Anxiety in COPD

TOPLINE:
An 8-week smartphone-based mindfulness program using audio-guided meditation reduced anxiety and improved emotional well-being in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also providing relief from stress, anxiety, and dyspnea following each session.
METHODOLOGY:
A considerable proportion of patients with COPD experience clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms; psychological interventions that are easy to implement as add-on treatments can alleviate these symptoms.
In this pilot study, 30 patients (mean age, 62.68 years; 60.5% women) with COPD and subclinical symptoms of anxiety or depression were enrolled and allocated to an 8-week self-administered digital mindfulness-based intervention (n = 14) or the waitlist control (n = 16).
Patients in the intervention group had an introductory face-to-face session, followed by daily smartphone audio-guided meditation adapted for patients with COPD. The waitlist group received the same intervention after the study period ended.
The primary endpoints were the feasibility of the intervention and its effects on anxiety and depression symptoms at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.
TAKEAWAY:
Patients in the intervention group practiced mindfulness on 81.38% of the 56 intervention days.
After 8 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in anxiety (P = .010) compared with the waitlist group; however, no significant improvement was observed for depression.
Similarly, significant improvements were reported for emotional functioning (P = .004), but no significant reductions in perceived stress and hair cortisol levels were observed after 8 weeks.
Significant reductions were reported for momentary subjective stress (P < .001), anxiety (P = .022), and dyspnea (P < .001) immediately after meditation sessions.
IN PRACTICE:
'The investigated self-administered digital MBI [mindfulness-based intervention], including brief 10- to 15-minute meditations, was feasible and holds potential as low-threshold add-on treatment to alleviate anxiety after 8 weeks and reduce momentary subjective stress, anxiety, and dyspnea in everyday life,' the study authors wrote.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Hannah Tschenett, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, and was published online on May 26, 2025, in Respiratory Research.
LIMITATIONS:
This study had several limitations including a small sample size, lack of a true control group, and potential selection bias due to recruitment from centers with patients already interested in mindfulness, which may have inflated adherence. Additionally, generalizability to all patients with COPD was limited, as many were either ineligible or declined to participate.
DISCLOSURES:
This study was funded by the Scientific Medical Fund of the City of Vienna and the Karl Landsteiner Institute (KLI) for Lung Research and Pulmonary Oncology. The KLI received funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Linde plc, Menarini Pharma, Novartis, and Vivisol Austria. Three authors reported being employees of KLI or receiving lecture fees from some of these pharmaceutical companies.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Forbes

21 minutes ago

• Forbes

Trekking Far And Wide To Eradicate Polio In Pakistan

A look at the dedicated health workers crossing Pakistan to reach 45 million children in one week with the lifesaving polio vaccine, with support from UNICEF and Rotary International. A husband and wife health worker team ride camelback to deliver the polio vaccine to children on their route in Pakistan. The couple is part of a massive national campaign to vaccinate 45 million children under 5 against wild poliovirus. Four decades ago, wild poliovirus paralyzed hundreds of children every day, with an estimated 350,000 cases in more than 125 countries. Today, polio is on the brink of eradication with just two endemic countries left: Afghanistan and Pakistan. The path to this remarkable public health milestone began in 1988 when UNICEF, Rotary International and other partners formed the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to spearhead a massive vaccination campaign that has decreased cases globally by over 99 percent. GPEI, along with national government and community health partners, vaccinates 400 million children against polio every year. These campaigns prevent an estimated 650,000 cases of paralysis and save up to 60,000 children's lives each year. This immersive video follows teams of vaccinators in Pakistan as they traverse the country, by any conveyance necessary — on foot, by motorbike and even camelback — to reach children living in the country's most remote areas. In less than one week, 45 million children under 5 will be visited, identified and vaccinated against polio. Watch the video to see polio vaccinators in action UNICEF and Rotary International are working together to create a polio-free world for children Until polio transmission is eliminated in every country, all countries remain at risk. To fully eradicate polio, no child can be missed and there is no time to lose. Ending polio will be a historic public health milestone, making polio the second infectious disease, after smallpox, to be certified eradicated. Because of the experience, support and partnership of UNICEF and countless Rotary members across the decades powering and driving forward millions of dedicated vaccinators, we are almost there. Learn more about UNICEF and Rotary International's longstanding partnership. UNICEF does not endorse any brand, company, organization, product or service.

Washington Post

27 minutes ago

• Washington Post

Ask a Vet: Why does my pet lick me so much?

Q: Why does my pet lick me — and is it safe to let them do it? A: Dogs and cats may lick humans to show empathy or affection — or simply to get your attention. For healthy adults, the risk of illness after being licked by a pet that receives regular veterinary care is negligible. But when dogs and cats lick people with weak immune systems, serious infections can follow. Here's what to know about why pets do this, and when you should be concerned. More than 60 percent of U.S. households include a pet, for good reason: pet ownership reduces loneliness, depression and anxiety. Rustin Moore, dean of the veterinary school at Ohio State University and author of an upcoming book on the human-animal bond, says this bond 'has a profound power to heal, comfort and connect us; it is one of the most underutilized tools for improving human well-being.' Animal-assisted therapy is increasingly used in schools, nursing homes, hospices, prisons and hospitals, with benefits that include reduced pain perception, more rapid recovery from surgery, and improved emotional skills in children with disorders such as autism. Licking is a common behavior in pets. In a 2020 study from Belgium, hand-licking by dogs was reported by 86 percent of owners — and face-licking by 50 percent of owners. In a study in the United Kingdom, more than 50 percent of people said their dogs licked visitors, too. Animals lick other animals for many reasons. New moms lick their babies to clean and protect them (saliva has certain antibacterial properties, which also could explain why animals lick their wounds). Animals also lick one another during 'social grooming,' a bonding behavior that is particularly common in cats. A dog may lick humans to show empathy. And — given the opportunity — pets will meticulously lick skin that has traces of food or salty sweat on it. When it's reinforced by positive social interactions (such as petting and a soothing voice), licking also can be a way to get attention. Genetics, other environmental influences, and age also influence licking behavior — in the U.K. study, younger dogs were more likely to lick people than older dogs. In short, yes. Despite saliva's antibacterial effects, a pet's mouth harbors billions of bacteria just waiting to infect humans when introduced into open wounds. Within this 'bacterial soup' are two organisms with tongue-twisting names and a special ability to cause severe human disease: Capnocytophaga canimorsus (capno-sigh-toh-fah-gah canny-morse-us), a long, rod-shaped bug; and Pasteurella multocida (par-stew-rella mul-tee-sigh-dar), a tiny oval-shaped bug. Although I wish these organisms had nicknames, they don't — so I'll just call them Capnocytophaga and Pasteurella here (recognizing that there are other Capnocytophaga and Pasteurella species that are not important causes of human disease). If you own a dog or cat, you probably live with these germs — they're found in most healthy dogs and cats. Capnocytophaga inhabits the mouth of more than 70 percent of dogs and 55 percent of cats, whereas Pasteurella is found in more than 50 percent of dogs and more than 70 percent of cats. Although rare, Capnocytophaga infections are concerning, because they progress rapidly, and up to one-third of infections can be fatal. Within just a few days of a lick or bite, Capnocytophaga can multiply in your blood and cause critical organs to fail. These infections are also hard to diagnose, because Capnocytophaga grows slowly in the laboratory. The most severe form of infection — a gruesome gangrenous skin condition known as purpura fulminans — has a mortality rate of 60 percent. Survivors often face amputation of fingers, toes or limbs. Pasteurella infections are more common, because Pasteurella is frequently involved in bite wound infections (think of it as the common cat bite bug). Much less often, serious Pasteurella infections follow licking, especially in babies or people that allow pets to lick open wounds or medical devices. With increasing animal ownership and advancements in human medical therapy, reports of Pasteurella infections of knee and hip replacements, peritoneal dialysis systems and long-term vascular access devices are increasing. 'We have seen serious Pasteurella infections that arose after cats — especially kittens — chewed on and contaminated dialysis equipment,' says Natascha Tuznik, an infectious-disease physician at the University of California-Davis. 'Such equipment should always be kept away from pets.' While bacteria like Pasteurella and Capnocytophaga are very common in your pet's saliva, it's incredibly rare for people to get sick after being licked. Every year, millions of bloodstream infections occur in North America and Europe, but fewer than 600 Capnocytophaga infections and just 20 cases of purpura fulminans have ever been reported. Infections from licking are most likely to occur in infants, pregnant people, people over 50, or people with conditions such as AIDS, cancer, alcoholism, diabetes or organ transplants. Tuznik notes that 'people who lack a functioning spleen are particularly susceptible to Capnocytophaga infections and are specifically advised to avoid being licked by pets.' Wash your skin with soap and water after being licked. Avoid sharing food dishes and utensils with your pet (no more fork feeding!). Prevent pets from licking open wounds or medical devices. And people in high-risk groups should limit contact to snuggles instead of smooches. If you (or people you care for) have a weak immune system and illness develops, tell your health care provider about any known animal contact. When doctors know which bacteria to suspect, the result is earlier treatment, faster recovery and fewer complications. No! Remember, pet ownership can ease the emotional burdens often experienced by people with chronic illnesses. Even if your pet licks you, the chance of infection is minuscule. Talk to your doctor and veterinarian about ways to minimize the risk based on your specific health condition or life stage while keeping dogs and cats by your side. Jane Sykes is a Professor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California-Davis. She is a board-certified specialist in small animal (dog and cat) internal medicine with a special interest in infectious diseases. In addition to her veterinary degree, she has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, an MBA from the University of Georgia, and an MPH from Kansas State University, and is a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice. She is the proud owner of two Labrador retrievers (Flora and Bodhi) and an orange tabby cat (Freckles).

Bloomberg

31 minutes ago

• Bloomberg

Lilly Drug Saves Muscle When Added to Wegovy Weight-Loss Shot

Patients who took an experimental drug from Eli Lilly & Co. together with Novo Nordisk A/S 's Wegovy maintained muscle while losing weight, offering a potential solution to one of the key problems that's emerged with popular obesity shots. The closely-watched study showed that patients on Wegovy combined with bimagrumab lost 22.1% of their body weight in 48 weeks, with 92.8% of that coming from the body's fat stores, according to results shared Monday at the American Diabetes Association conference in Chicago.