Singing in a choir may improve breathing and well-being in children born with a single heart ventricle
Singing in a choir strengthens breathing capacity, decreases depression and anxiety, and improves perceived school functioning in children born with a single heart ventricle, according to a feasibility study from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago published in Pediatric Cardiology. This intervention, including in-person and online singing and breathing instruction, was developed…
An eight-week feasibility study published in Pediatric Cardiology found that singing in a choir may improve breathing capacity and well-being in children born with a single heart ventricle. The study, led by Dr. Kendra Ward from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, involved 14 patients aged 8-16 who participated in weekly singing and breathing instruction, both in-person and online.
The program included a total of 30 minutes of private voice instruction and 60 minutes of group instruction per week, along with access to an online program of singing and breathing exercises. Post-intervention assessments revealed improvements in some breathing measures, as well as higher scores on self-reports of depression and well-being, and parent reports of school function, depression and anxiety.
While these results are promising, they do not establish efficacy and a larger multicenter study is planned for 2027. The choir intervention could be replicated anywhere with minimal resources, offering a novel way to support the physical and psychosocial development of children with single ventricle heart disease.
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