The Effects of Breathing Retraining in Patients With Interstitial Lung Diseases

University of Malta

Status: Completed

Conditions: Interstitial Lung Disease

Treatments: Behavioral: Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03729583

MAxiak

Details and patient eligibility

About

Breathing retraining has been reported to lead to improvements in dyspnoea and walking distance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Evidence regarding the effects of such an intervention in ILD patients is though lacking. In view of this, the aims of such a study were to identify whether breathing retraining led to better management of dyspnoea and improved walking distance in ILD patients.

Full description

One of the commonest symptoms experienced in patients with a diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is shortness of breath, a symptom which greatly affects their abilities to carry out activities of daily living. Breathing retraining has been reported to lead to improvements in dyspnoea and walking distance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Evidence regarding the effects of such an intervention in ILD patients is though lacking. In view of this, the aims of such a study were to identify whether breathing retraining led to better management of dyspnoea and improved walking distance in ILD patients. Twenty Seven ILD patients were randomly distributed to either the control group (n=15) which received a 12-week Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) programme without breathing retraining or the active group (n=12) which received a 12-week PR programme with breathing retraining. All patients had both the 6-minute walk test and their level of breathlessness assessed using the Dyspnoea Borg scale assessed at baseline and at 4 weekly intervals for a 12-week period throughout the programme.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ILD and who were referred for PR

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who had musculoskeletal or neurological conditions affecting the outcome measures
• Patients who required oxygen therapy and did not accept administration
• Patients with unstable cardiovascular conditions
• Patients who were not willing to participate

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

30 participants in 2 patient groups

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group consisted of 15 patients with a diagnosis of ILD. They received a 12-week Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) programme without breathing retraining All patients were medically stable and referred by their caring respiratory consultant

Treatment:

Behavioral: Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Active group

Experimental group

Description:

The active group consisted of 15 patients with a diagnosis of ILD. They received a 12-week Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) programme with breathing retraining exercises. All patients were medically stable and referred by their caring respiratory consultant

Treatment:

Behavioral: Pulmonary Rehabilitation