Effect of a 16-Session Qigong Program in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: The treatment associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients may cause adverse effects on their physical and psychological condition. The aim of this study is to detect the response to an eight-week, 16-session, 60-min presential Qigong program in anxiety, depression and vagal nerve activ...

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Main Authors: Keyla Vargas-Román, Emilia I. De la Fuente-Solana, Jonathan Cortés-Martín, Juan Carlos Sánchez-García, Christian J. González-Vargas, Lourdes Díaz-Rodríguez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/12/3421
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Summary:Background: The treatment associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients may cause adverse effects on their physical and psychological condition. The aim of this study is to detect the response to an eight-week, 16-session, 60-min presential Qigong program in anxiety, depression and vagal nerve activity alongside a control group. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was managed. Randomization was carried out by generating a numerical sequence of three cycles through the software EPIDAT 4.1. Numbers were placed in sealed opaque envelopes for assignment to the different groups. Results: Anxiety levels were substantially decreased in the experimental group, with a large effect size (F = 30.38, <i>p</i> < 0.00). Depression levels had an improvement in the experimental group in contrast to the control group, reaching statistical significance (F = 19.19, <i>p</i> < 0.00). Heart Rate Variability unveiled significant results in terms of between-group differences, with a large effect size in the HRV Index (F = 15.80, <i>p</i> < 0.00), SDNN (F = 8.82, <i>p</i> < 0.00), and RMSSD (F = 6.72, <i>p</i> < 0.01) in the time domain, and a medium effect size in the HF (F = 9.78, <i>p</i> < 0.003), LF (F = 9.78, <i>p</i> < 0.00), and LF/HF Ratio (F = 18.44, <i>p</i> < 0.00) in the frequency domain, which were all bettered in the experimental group, after the Qigong program. Conclusions: Qigong therapy can be an effective therapeutic activity in consonance with traditional medicine to improve psychological health and autonomic nervous system balance in non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors.
ISSN:2077-0383