Comparative Effects of Buteyko Breathing Technique and Active Cycle of Breathing Technique on Dyspnea and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) significantly impacts the quality of life due to symptoms like dyspnea. Non-pharmacological interventions, particularly breathing techniques, have gained attention for their potential to improve patient outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) and the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) in reducing dyspnea and enhancing the quality of life in COPD patients. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial conducted at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, 40 COPD patients (mean age 59.70 ± 5.89 years; 70% male) were assigned to either BBT or ACBT groups. Both groups received standard treatments of bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. The intervention involved three sessions per week for six weeks. Dyspnea was measured using the Modified Borg Scale (MBS), and quality of life was assessed through the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Normality of data was confirmed via the Shapiro-Wilk test, and parametric tests (paired and independent T-tests) were used for statistical analysis. Results: Pre-treatment MBS in the BBT group was 6.7 ± 1.56, reducing to 2.9 ± 1.21 post-treatment. The SGRQ scores also showed improvement from 71.5 ± 8.44 to 36.8 ± 6.6. In the ACBT group, the MBS score decreased from 7.3 ± 1.56 to 3.95 ± 1.36, and SGRQ scores from 71.6 ± 8.46 to 42.55 ± 6.61. The between-group comparison indicated a more significant improvement in the BBT group, with post-treatment p-values of 0.01 for MBS and 0.009 for SGRQ. Conclusion: Both BBT and ACBT effectively improved dyspnea and quality of life in COPD patients, with BBT showing a greater impact. These findings suggest that BBT could be a preferable non-pharmacological intervention in COPD management. However, individual patient factors should be considered when choosing the appropriate technique.