{
  "id": 19241211,
  "title": "Singing in a choir may improve breathing and well-being in children born with a single heart ventricle",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/singing-in-a-choir-may-improve-breathing-and-well-being-in-children",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-09T23:30:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-11-choir-children-born-heart-ventricle.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [
    "Singing in a choir may improve breathing capacity in children with single heart ventricle.",
    "Study led by Dr. Kendra Ward at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.",
    "Improvements in breathing, depression, well-being, and school function reported."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}