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ArticleBMC public health2025

Association between yoga and multimorbidity: a nationwide study of 279,885 middle-aged and older adults.

Kaiyue Wang, Peilu Wang, Yaqi Li, Chen Wang, Susan Veldheer, Feifei Wang, Muzi Na, Liang Sun, Xiang Gao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kaiyue Wang *Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Peilu Wang *Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Yaqi LiDepartment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Chen WangShanghai Research Institute of Sports Science, Shanghai, 200030, China.
Susan VeldheerDepartments of Family and Community Medicine and Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
Feifei WangDepartment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Muzi NaDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Liang SunDepartment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. sun_liang@fudan.edu.cn.
Xiang GaoDepartment of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. xiang_gao@fudan.edu.cn.

Funding

Fudan University JIF201018YFudan University JIF201036Y
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe health benefits of exercise have been well-established, but the specific role of yoga in multimorbidity was less understood. This study aimed to examine the association between yoga and multimorbidity in comparison with other exercises or non-exercise.

methodsThis cross-sectional study pooled nationally representative surveys from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (2015, 2017, and 2019), and classified 279,885 participants aged 45 + years as yoga practitioners, other exercisers, and non-exercisers. Multinominal and binary logistic regressions were separately used for association of yoga with multimorbidity (coexistence of ≥ 2 conditions) and individual chronic conditions. Potential effect modification by age, sex, education level, and race/ethnicity was examined. We further assessed the dose-response association of duration and frequency of yoga practice with multimorbidity.

resultsThe adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for yoga practitioners (n = 5081) vs. other exercisers (n = 192,718) were 0.69 (95% CI 0.55-0.86) for coexistence of two conditions, and 0.72 (95%CI 0.58-0.89) for coexistence of ≥ 3 conditions. The associations were stronger (ORs ranged from 0.43 to 0.52; P < 0.0001 for all) when comparing yoga practitioners with non-exercisers (n = 82,086), which were more pronounced in women relative to men (P-interaction < 0.05). Increased duration or frequency of yoga practice was associated with lower odds of multimorbidity in a dose-response manner (P for trend<0.0001 for all). Similar inverse associations were observed between yoga and individual chronic conditions.

conclusionYoga was associated with lower odds of multimorbidity in middle-aged and older adults, relative to other exercises or non-exercise.

Indexed as

MultimorbidityYogaAgedBehavioral Risk Factor Surveillance SystemChronic DiseaseCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedUnited StatesChronic conditionsDose-response associationMultimorbidityYoga

Identifiers

PMID40050815
PMCPMC11884150

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