Improvement of outpatient rehabilitation in patients with bronchial asthma

Abstract

Investigation of efficacy of various rehabilitation methods in patients with asthma was performed. We observed 165 patients divided into 3 groups. All of them received the basic therapy for asthma. Each group included the study subgroup (40 patients) and the placebo subgroup (15 patients). The 1st study subgroup patients received 250 μg of nebulized ipratropium bromide and 500 μg of phenoterol hydrobromide followed by 22.5 mg of nebulized ambroxol; inhalations of 0.9 % saline solution were as placebo. The 2nd study subgroup patients were treated with acupuncture; and placebo patients received spontaneous pricks of the skin. The 3rd group was treated with willed limitation of deep breathing (WLDB) by K.Buteyko's method and placebo physiotherapy. We noted qualitative changes in clinical course of the disease, significant reduction of drug therapy and improvement in all lung function parameters in the 1st group patients. In the 2nd and the 3rd groups, some patients reported improvement in their health status, reduction in dyspnea and in need in bronchodilators. However, analysis of their peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and lung function parameters did not show statistically significant improvement compared to placebo.