Meditation or exercise for preventing acute respiratory infection (MEPARI-2): A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPractice of meditation or exercise may enhance health to protect against acute infectious illness.ObjectiveTo assess preventive effects of meditation and exercise on acute respiratory infection (ARI) illness.DesignRandomized controlled prevention trial with three parallel groups.SettingMadison, Wisconsin, USA.ParticipantsCommunity-recruited adults who did not regularly exercise or meditate.Methods1) 8-week behavioral training in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR); 2) matched 8-week training in moderate intensity sustained exercise (EX); or 3) observational waitlist control. Training classes occurred in September and October, with weekly ARI surveillance through May. Incidence, duration, and area-under-curve ARI global severity were measured using daily reports on the WURSS-24 during ARI illness. Viruses were identified multiplex PCR. Absenteeism, health care utilization, and psychosocial health self-report assessments were also employed.ResultsOf 413 participants randomized, 390 completed the trial. In the MBSR group, 74 experienced 112 ARI episodes with 1045 days of ARI illness. Among exercisers, 84 had 120 episodes totaling 1010 illness days. Eighty-two of the controls had 134 episodes with 1210 days of ARI illness. Mean global severity was 315 for MBSR (95% confidence interval 244, 386), 256 (193, 318) for EX, and 336 (268, 403) for controls. A prespecified multivariate zero-inflated regression model suggested reduced incidence for MBSR (p = 0.036) and lower global severity for EX (p = 0.042), compared to control, not quite attaining the pConclusionsTraining in mindfulness meditation or exercise may help protect against ARI illness.LimitationsThis trial was likely underpowered.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT01654289