Effects of Buteyko Breathing Technique versus Diaphragmatic Breathing on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a prevalent condition characterized by decreased respiratory function and reduced quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation techniques, specifically Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) and Diaphragmatic Breathing Technique (DBT), have been suggested to improve these aspects in COPD patients. However, comparative efficacy of these techniques remains uncertain. Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of BBT and DBT on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with COPD. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial (WHO Registry of IRCTs: NCT05947227), 48 COPD patients (aged 40-65 years) were enrolled and randomly assigned to either BBT or DBT groups. Both groups underwent respective breathing technique training as part of pulmonary rehabilitation over a 10-month period at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Key measurements included the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) for exercise capacity and the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for quality of life assessment. The Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale was used to categorize dyspnea severity. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (Version 25), with parametric and non-parametric tests applied for comparative analysis. Results: Both groups showed improvement post-intervention, but DBT demonstrated superior outcomes. Quality of life scores improved from an average of 85.33 (SD=1.110) to 76.06 (SD=4.503) in the DBT group, compared to 87.16 (SD=4.55) to 83.10 (SD=5.76) in the BBT group (p=0.000). Similarly, 6MWT distances showed significant improvement in the DBT group. The DBT group also exhibited a more considerable enhancement in activity scores and dyspnea reduction compared to the BBT group. Conclusion: While both BBT and DBT are effective in improving exercise capacity and quality of life in COPD patients, DBT shows a more significant improvement. These findings suggest that DBT could be a more favorable technique in pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD patients.