Abstract P284: Effects of a Laughter Program on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 149; no. Suppl_1
• Main Authors: Ohira, Tetsuya, Funakubo, Narumi, Eguchi, ERI, Shirai, Kokoro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 19.03.2024
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/circ.149.suppl_1.P284

Abstract only Introduction: While there have been several intervention studies on the psychological effects of laughter, few have examined both the psychological and physical effects in community-dwelling older people. This study aimed to examine the effects of a laughter program on body weight, waist circumference, heart rate, blood pressure, grip strength, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in community-dwelling older adults using an intervention trial in Japan. Hypothesis: Laughter-based interventions are effective in reducing cardiovascular risk factors and improving quality of life in the community-dwelling elderly population. Methods: In Yao City, Osaka Prefecture, two school districts were selected and participants were recruited for a laughter program for seniors aged 70 and older in each district. One of the two districts was assigned to receive the laughter program first (laughter intervention group), and the other was assigned to receive the laughter program later (control group). A total of 87 people applied to participate (40 in the intervention group, mean age 75 years; 37 in the control group, mean age 75 years), and the intervention group received 10 laughter programs over 12 weeks. The laughter program was composed of an approximately 30-min lecture about laughter and health, or an approximately 30-min appreciation of rakugo by a professional performer of rakugo , a traditional form of Japanese comic storytelling, and an approximately 60-min laughter yoga class by the laughter yoga teachers. Rakugo was regarded as part of the laughter lectures, and three lectures were given. In both groups, participants were measured for weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, grip strength, and HRQOL at baseline and after 12 weeks. The effects of the laughter program on these factors were analyzed using analysis of covariance for change in each measure, adjusted for age, sex, baseline values, and medication use. Results: None of the participants were injured or physically ill from the laughter program. The laughter program significantly improved the mean waist circumference ( p <0.001), heart rate ( p = 0.04), grip strength ( p <0.001), and mental component summary scores of HRQOL ( p = 0.04). A similar tendency occurred for the mean changes in diastolic blood pressure and physical component summary scores of HRQOL. No significant changes were observed for body weight and systolic blood pressure. Conclusion: The comprehensive 12-week laughter intervention program, consisting primarily of laughter yoga, significantly improved physical and psychological functions such as waist circumference, heart rate, grip strength, and HRQOL among community-dwelling older adults.