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Symptom reduction in kidney transplant patients from 20-minute mindful breathing: a randomized controlled trial.

Kai Wei Lim, Kok Peng Ng, Shok Hoon Ooi, Wei San Siow, Seng Beng Tan

BMC nephrology April 16, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-024-03820-7 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 60
Population Adult kidney transplant patients with at least one symptom scoring ≥ 4/10 on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale
Intervention Mindful breathing
Dose 20-minute session
Duration Single session
Topics Anxiety Meditation
Keywords Kidney transplant Mindful breathing Symptoms reduction
Citations 4
Key findings A single 20-minute session of mindful breathing significantly reduced total symptom scores in kidney transplant recipients compared to a control group.

Abstract

Many kidney transplant recipients continue to be affected by multiple symptoms even after their transplant. Mindfulness may be helpful to alleviate some of the symptoms. Our current study aimed to determine the efficacy of a single session of 20-minute mindful breathing in alleviating multiple symptoms in kidney transplant patients. Adult kidney transplant patients with at least one symptom scoring ≥ 4/10 based on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were recruited from November 2020 to May 2021. Participants were randomly assigned to either 20-minute mindful breathing or control. Sixty participants were recruited and randomly assigned to intervention (N = 30) or control (N = 30). There was statistically significant greater reduction of the total ESAS score in the intervention group compared with the control group (mean difference = -4.833, confidence interval = -7.837, -1.830, t = -3.251, p = 0002). Our results provided evidence that 20-minute mindful breathing could reduce multiple symptoms rapidly in kidney transplant recipients.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
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Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety 2016 Randomized controlled trial n = 51
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Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Adults with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety 2010 Double-blind, placebo-controlled study n = 12

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