Breathing techniques to reduce symptoms in people with serious respiratory illness: a systematic review


Author: Angela T Burge1,2, Adelle M Gadowski2, Alice Jones3, Lorena Romero4, Natasha E Smallwood2,5, Magnus Ekström6, Lynn F Reinke7, Ravijyot Saggu8, Marlies Wijsenbeek9, Anne E Holland10,2,5,11

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Physiotherapy, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia.

<sup>2</sup> School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

<sup>3</sup> School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

<sup>4</sup> The Ian Potter Library, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia.

<sup>5</sup> Department of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia.

<sup>6</sup> Respiratory Medicine, Allergology and Palliative Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

<sup>7</sup> College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

<sup>8</sup> Pharmacy Medicines Management Team, Central London Community Healthcare Trust, London, UK.

<sup>9</sup> Centre for Interstitial Lung Diseases and Sarcoidosis, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

<sup>10</sup> Department of Physiotherapy, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia anne.holland@monash.edu.

<sup>11</sup> Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference/Journal: Eur Respir Rev
Date published: 2024 Oct 30
Other:
 Volume ID: 33   ,  Issue ID: 174   ,  Pages: 240012   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1183/16000617.0012-2024.   ,  Word Count: 263  
    Background:

In adults with serious respiratory illness, breathlessness is prevalent and associated with reduced health-related quality of life. The aim of this review was to assess the impact of breathing techniques on breathlessness in adults with serious respiratory illness.



Methods:

Electronic databases were searched to identify randomised controlled trials testing breathing techniques (techniques that aim to alter the respiratory pattern, excluding respiratory muscle training) in people with serious respiratory illness. The primary outcome was breathlessness and secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life and adverse events. Two authors independently screened for inclusion, evaluated risk of bias and extracted data.



Results:

73 randomised controlled trials were included with 5479 participants, most with COPD or asthma. Breathing exercises (pursed lip and/or diaphragmatic breathing) reduced breathlessness measured by the modified Medical Research Council scale compared to usual care (mean difference (MD) -0.40 points, 95% CI -0.70- -0.11, eight studies, n=323), although the effect did not exceed the minimal important difference. Yoga breathing also improved modified Medical Research Council score compared to usual care (MD -1.05 points, 95% CI -2.45-0.35, three studies, n=175). Breathing techniques consistently improved health-related quality of life in people with COPD and asthma on multiple health-related quality of life measures in comparison to usual care, with effects that generally exceeded the minimal important difference. No adverse events related to breathing techniques were reported.



Conclusion:

Breathing techniques may improve breathlessness, and consistently improve health-related quality of life, in people with serious respiratory illness. These findings support the use of breathing exercises in the care of people with serious respiratory illness.





PMID: 39477355 PMCID: PMC11522968 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0012-2024