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A controlled respiratory training to improve quality of life and well-being perception in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Francesca Mastorci

Clinical Physiology Institute, CNR, Pisa, Italy,

E-mail : bhuvaneswari.bibleraaj@uhsm.nhs.uk

Francesca Mannucci

Fondazione G. Monasterio, Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy

Maria Francesca Lodovica Lazzeri

Clinical Physiology Institute, CNR, Pisa, Italy,

Mirko Passera

Clinical Physiology Institute, CNR, Pisa, Italy,

Fabio Brucini

Clinical Physiology Institute, CNR, Pisa, Italy,

Ivana Pavlickova

Fondazione G. Monasterio, Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy

Alessandro Pingitore

Clinical Physiology Institute, CNR, Pisa, Italy,

Giosue Catapano

Fondazione G. Monasterio, Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy

DOI: 10.15761/BRCP.1000218

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Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) requires continuous patient management caused by frequent exacerbations with consequent hospitalizations and a worsening of the patient's quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation improves exercise tolerance, but many patients do not have access to these programs.

Aim: We assumed that 3 months of controlled respiratory training (CRT), providing benefits on well-being in healthy subjects, can represent a valid strategy to improve health status and better disease management in COPD patients.

Design: Quality improvement in health care

Setting: Outpatients attending the rehabilitation treatment room of a single centre.

Population: 34 patients with COPD (according GOLD 2019 classification) were enrolled.

Methods: Patients were divided into TREAT group (n = 18, 16 males, age 73.83 ± 6.71 years) and control group (CTR: 13 males, age 74.06 ± 6.38 years). Before and after CRT a battery of psychological questionnaires were assessed. T

Results: REAT group in Post-CRT, as compared to CTR, showed a reduction in depressive symptoms (BDI, p<0.05; POMS depression, p<0.05), anger (p<0.01), stress perception (PSS, p<0.05), and anxiety levels (BAI, p=0.05). Also, CRT improved general health (p<0.01) and vitality (p<0.05).

Conclusions: This preliminary study demonstrated that CRT is effective to improve quality of life and well-being perception in patients with COPD. Larger studies will need to confirm the long-term clinical and psychological benefits of this holistic approach, addictive to the traditional clinical practice, not only for symptomatic COPD, but also more generally to all patients with chronic diseases.

Clinical rehabilitation impact: In clinical settings, for COPD patients, who experience the chronic nature of illness, we propose an additive holistic approach to the traditional clinical practice to improve health-related quality of life, and thus, a better disease management.

Keywords

COPD, controlled respiratory training, pulmonary rehabilitation, well-being, quality of life

Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), require continuous patient management caused by frequent exacerbations with consequent hospitalizations and a worsening of the patient's quality of life [1]. Further, the clinical scenario of COPD is dominated by dyspnoea, that lead to a progressive inactivity, and thus, inducing progressive deconditioning and weakening of the skeletal muscles. This vicious circle contributes to a significant reduction in functional capacity up to the impossibility of sustaining the normal activities of daily life [2-4]. Furthermore, the difficulties related to the chronic condition can also decrease the perception of well-being and, facilitating the development of psychological comorbidities [5]. Among the management strategies of COPD, pulmonary rehabilitation is taking an increasingly central role that is underpinned by the American and European respiratory societies statement [6]. In this document, pulmonary rehabilitation is defined as a comprehensive and multidisciplinary intervention including exercise training, education, behaviour changes with the aim to improve physical activity and psychological conditions [6]. In this context, breathing exercises, including pursed lips breathing or inspiratory muscle training, as well as yoga techniques, have been shown to have a high level of effectiveness in reducing dyspnoea, and improving exercise tolerance and quality of life [7,8].

Controlled respiratory training (CRT), a method of respiratory training based on Pranayama Yoga procedure, is characterized by conscious slow and deep acts of breathing, without any device support [9]. This method provides benefits on well-being in healthy subjects and in patients with different diseases [10-12]. Therefore, we hypothesized that CRT could improve psychosocial dimensions in COPD patients. In line with this hypothesis, the aim of this pilot study was to assess the effects of CRT in COPD patients on quality of life and well-being perception.

Materials and methods

Patients

The enrolled population consisted of 18 patients (15 males) with COPD (according GOLD 2019 classification), evaluating their disease status according to FEV1 value (< or ³ 50% predicted; C-D stage or A-B stage, respectively), presence of symptoms (MRC ³ 2, CAT ³ 10; B-D stage), history of exacerbations (< or ³ 2 in the previous year; A-B stage or C-D stage, respectively).

The control group (CTR, n =16), including COPD patients did not participate in the respiratory training (waiting list). Exclusion criteria were: (1) bronchitic exacerbation of any degree (mild-moderate-severe) within 3 months prior to enrollment; (2) oxygen lung therapy; (3) general clinical contraindications to the cardiopulmonary exercise test according to the ATS/ACCP guidelines; (4) physical impediments to the procedure of the ergospirometry; (5) scares motivation to respiratory training. Data on medical history and clinical status were collected and summarized in Table 1. Medication did not change during the training period. The research protocol was approved by the local ethics committee review board (Prot. n 14372). All patients gave informed consent, and authorized physicians to use their clinical data in accordance with Italian law. All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Table 1. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the population. Data given as mean ± SD. BMI: Body Mass Index; GOLD: Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; CAT: COPD Assessment Test.

Variables

TREAT (n=18)

CTR (N=16)

p

Age

73.83 ± 6.71

74.06 ± 6.38

ns

BMI (Kg/m2)

25.4 ± 3.22

24.8 ± 2.36

ns

Emphysema/ chronic bronchitis (n)

11/7

10/6

ns

GOLD A/B/C/D

5/7/2/4

5/5/3/3

ns

MRC score 0/1/2

2/9/7

1/11/5

ns

CAT score

13.4 ± 5.2

11.5 ± 3.8

ns

Intervention method

CRT consisted of weekly 2 h sessions, lasting 3 months. This was divided into 2 parts: theoretical and practical. In the theoretical session, the educational sessions were the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system, breathing control and breathing awareness, visualization. The practical part was performed indoors, paying attention to personal comfort and environmental quietness. The first step consisted of teaching the optimal position for correct breathing: the privileged position was the supine one. Patients were encouraged to slowly inhale, again through the nose, and bring the air into the bottom of their lungs with the diaphragm, then continue inhaling to open and expand the rib cage upward and finishing inhalation with clavicle respiration. The exhalation time is twice as long as the inhalation time: for example, when an inspiration lasts 4 s, expiration lasts 8 s. In the first step, the inspiration and expiration were repeated without a break, with nasal inhaling and oral exhaling, in order to control air flux. In the second step both air, inhalation, and exhalation, were accomplished nasally with breaks at maximal inspiration and at maximal expiration. These breaks lasted for two at the beginning and up to eight seconds at the end of the training. These exercises gave patients a heightened awareness of their breathing thus enabling them to control both frequency and deepness. The control and the awareness of breathing were further enhanced using visualization techniques that are typical in yoga practice with the aim to increase concentration towards breathing. The weekly CRT sessions lasted 2 h each, for a total number of 14 sessions in the 3 months. The exercises during the three months increased in degree of difficulty by increasing the in/out times and therefore decreasing the acts per minute, but always respecting the comfort of the patients. Patients were invited to perform CRT exercises at home with the aid of an audio for the ventilatory rhythm and were regularly encouraged by our trainers through mobile-phone messages and/or whatsapp communication.

Measures

The study included measurements in baseline condition, prior to randomization (Pre-CRT) and after 3 months of CRT (Post-CRT). During this time, all participants were advised to do not modify their usual lifestyle. At baseline and at the end of training period, all patients were submitted to a selection of psychometric tests specifically designed for evaluating psychosocial profile. In particular, the quality and patterns of sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI) [13], affective dimension (Profile of Mood States; POMS, Beck Depression Inventory; BDI-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory; BAI) [14-15], stress perception (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS) [16], and well-being (Psychological General Well-Being Index; PGWBI) were assessed [17].

Statistical analysis

Statistical data analyses were performed using SPSS (Version 22.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). Data are presented as mean ± SD or as mean with 95% confidence interval (CI). The Saphiro-Wilk test was used to assess the normality of data distribution. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Changes in psychosocial profile between groups (Pre-CRT vs Post-CRT) were analyzed by Student’s unpaired t-test, while variations intra group (Pre-CRT vs Post-CRT) with Student’s paired t-test.

Results

Patients demographic and clinical characteristics

Demographic and clinical characteristics are shown in Table 1. Study population consisted of 34 male patients (71 ± 6.7 years old). All reported a history of smoking, with an index of tobacco exposure of 44 ± 25 pack years (range 10-90). The 65% of patients presented cardiovascular comorbidities, 12% suffering of diabetes mellitus, 6% from chronic renal insufficiency, while no one reported previous specific pulmonary episodes. All patients had COPD according to the GOLD classification and 65% of them was classified as stage B-D.

Exercise program adherence

During the entire duration of the CRT, the patients were clinically stable, maintained the prescribed therapy and did not need any type of additional intervention or therapy. The number of training sessions over 3 months were 24. All patients performed training at home with a frequency of 19.17 ± 2.9 min a day.

Effect of respiratory training on quality of life and psychophysical well-being perception

Descriptive data of psychometric questionnaires in all patients divided by group are presented in Table 2. All variables were normally distributed according to the Saphiro-Wilk test. At baseline conditions (Pre-CRT), the two groups showed no differences for any of the variables analyzed (Table 2). Regarding Post-CRT, several variables significantly differed between the two groups. COPD patients after CRT showed a reduction in depressive symptoms (BDI, p<0.05), as compared to control counterpart. CRT, in treated patients, reduced POMS depression (p<0.05) and POMS anger (p<0.01), stress perception (PSS, p<0.05), and anxiety levels (BAI, p=0.05). CRT improved psychological general well-being index in terms of general health (p<0.01) and vitality (p<0.05). No differences between groups were found in sleep quality.

Table 2. Psychological variables in both groups n baseline conditions (Pre-CRT) and after 3-months respiratory training (Post-CRT). Data given as mean ± SD. BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; PSS: Perceived Stress Scale; BAI: Beck Anxiety Inventory; PSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; POMS: Profile of Mood States; PGWBI: Psychological General Well-Being Index; GWBI: General Well-Being Index; p§ TREAT Pre-CRT vs TREAT Post-CRT; p# CTR Pre-CRT vs CTR Post-CRT.

 

Variables

Pre-CRT

 

Post-CRT

 

 

 

 

 

TREAT (n=18)

CTR

(n=16)

p

TREAT (n=18)

CTR

(n=16)

p

p§

p#

 

BDI

11.5 ± 6.77

11.31 ± 7.19

=0.84

6.06 ± 5.98

11.18 ± 7.26

<0.05

<0.001

=0.33

 

PSS

16.94 ± 5.91

16.31 ± 5.62

=0.75

10.56 ± 4.64

16.06 ± 5.55

<0.05

<0.001

=0.16

 

BAI

9.11 ± 5.36

8.94 ± 5.22

=0.92

5 ± 4.23

8.56 ± 5.66

=0.05

<0.001

=0.14

 

PSQI

5.83 ± 3.49

6.31 ± 3.11

=0.68

5.83 ± 3.79

6.69 ± 2.36

=0.44

=1

=0.3

POMS

Tension

45.28 ± 7.91

45.88 ± 8.02

=0.83

44 ± 7.78

46.06 ± 6.89

=0.42

=0.31

=0.67

Depression

52.00 ± 9.45

49.06 ± 9.74

=0.38

43.28 ± 5.11

49.06 ± 9.50

<0.05

<0.001

=1

Anger

49.39 ± 7.83

48.06 ± 8.93

=0.65

41.22 ± 6.84

48.25 ± 9.14

<0.01

<0.001

=0.38

Vigor

48.72 ± 11.53

47.88 ± 11.79

=0.83

52.22 ± 12.06

47.75 ± 11.76

=0.35

=0.1

=0.58

Fatigue

47.89 ± 10.78

48.81 ± 10.63

=0.8

47.44 ± 10.23

49 ± 10.51

=0.61

=0.75

=0.33

Confusion

45.44 ± 8.00

46.44 ± 8.59

=0.73

44.56 ± 7.78

46.75 ± 8.9

=0.41

=0.12

=0.33

Total score

240 ± 38.94

238.25 ± 41.46

=0.9

220.5 ± 32.88

239.13 ± 40.48

=0.13

<0.001

=0.21

PGWBI

Anxiety

18 ± 4.07

17.63 ± 4.30

=0.8

18.56 ± 2.23

17.38 ± 4.10

=0.3

=0.51

=0.52

Depressed mood

9.94 ± 0.94

9.44 ± 1.36

=0.21

10 ± 0.97

9.69 ± 1.54

=0.48

=0.83

=0.47

Positive well-being

10.94 ± 1.73

10.81 ± 1.47

=0.81

10.67 ± 1.24

10.69 ± 1.54

00.97

=0.62

=0.54

Self-control

6  ±  1.41

6.13  ±  1.45

=0.8

6  ±  1.28

6.38  ±  1.15

=0.38

=1

=0.47

General health

7.67  ±  1.75

7.44  ±  1.50

=0.69

9.61  ±  2.57

7.31  ±  1.99

<0.001

<0.001

=0.61

Vitality

7  ±  1.91

7.81  ±  1.33

=0.16

10.50  ±  1.89

8.63  ±  2.31

<0.05

<0.001

=1

GWBI

59.56  ±  5.39

59.25  ±  5.78

=0.87

65.33  ±  3.5

60.06  ±  6.31

<0.01

=0.43

=1

Intra-group analysis has revealed that CRT patients in Post-CRT phase had a better perception of their quality of life and well-being. In fact, while control population did not change any variable compared to the baseline assessment (Table 2), CRT group showed no depressive symptoms (BDI, p<0.001 and POMS depression, p<0.001) and aggressive behavior (POMS anger, p<0.001), a reduction in stress (PSS, p<0.001), and anxiety perception (BAI, p<0.001), and an enhanced well-being level (PWBI general health p<0.001, and PWBI vitality, p<0.001).

Discussion

The present study explores the impact of CRT on quality of life and well-being perception in COPD patients, demonstrating that this approach is associated with improved psychological profile. More in detail, the main results of this pilot study showed that patients with symptomatic COPD had a significantly better well-being perception in terms of reduction in depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress levels, and enhanced general health awareness after CRT compared with the control group.

Our rationale for using controlled respiratory training is that this is a complementary intervention that is focused mainly on the cure of the person and for this reason has to be considered in addition to the state of the art treatment. Moreover, the approach here proposed is simple, cheaper, and can be also performed at home by the patients after a dedicated and specific training period. Accordingly, in our study, the rate of CRT home-training was high, that is about 20 minutes a day. This is an important result if we consider that in COPD patients, adherence to any kind of treatment, both pharmacological or not, is low [18,19]. In addition, the beneficial effects of pulmonary rehabilitation diminish with time and lack of compliance due to subjective factors, including smoking status, severity of dyspnoea, anxiety and depression, length of program, frequency of hospitalizations, and the difficulties to access to these care protocols [20-22].

This highlights the need for the improvement, also through disease complementary interventional approaches [23]. In this line, previous studies reported that breathing exercises could reduce anxiety and depression, and anger and confusion [24]. More generally, Pranayama techniques are able to induce relaxation and increase attention levels [25]. From clinical perspective, a recent study has demonstrated in our target patient population, that pranayama, or yoga breathing, was associated with improved exercise tolerance.26 However, in addition to the clinical aspects, it is also useful to underpin that emotional and social well-being are involved in COPD management. As the disease progresses, it becomes more difficult to carry out even the simplest daily activities, so much so that only 30.6% of COPD patients say they are satisfied with their life [27]. According to this view, our data demonstrated that three-month, twice-weekly of CRT, as compared to baseline condition was effective in reducing perception of anxiety, depression and stress levels and increasing well-being and vitality in COPD patients. Our preliminary results make this approach applicable in the primary care clinic in COPD field during pulmonary rehabilitation programs, but mostly at home, inasmuch our methodology could be used for patients who do not have access to a formal program of pulmonary rehabilitation or even be in support of the traditional practice. All this leads us to highlight even more the need to propose a more "holistic" approach in this category of patient and more generally in patients suffering from chronic diseases. In fact, when we talk about chronic diseases, we are talking about diseases that accompany the patient throughout his or her life. A patient with a chronic illness becomes a person with a need of much more attention and care, who over time is forced to limit his or her daily activities and social relationships. In this condition, the terms 'to cure' and 'to care' must be drawn to attention. In line with Humanistic Medicine patient-centred view, taking care of a patient no longer means merely treating the illness by managing the symptoms, but means taking care of the person in entirety: treating the illness, but also assessing how he or she lives with it, his or her psychological sphere and his or her social support. In addition, CRT here described is already applied by our research group in adolescent Fontan patients demonstrating that this methodology increases significantly aerobic capacities, and, thus, quality of life [9].

Finally, it is possible that the practice of respiratory training made patients feel better and, therefore, more likely to engage in daily activities, contributing to their improved quality of life, unrelatedly of an actual improvement in clinical parameters.

Limitations of the study

First, the small sample of the population study reduces the robustness of the results. However, the sample was homogeneous for age and clinical characterization. Second, although the social component is very important in COPD patients, the "group" factor was not investigated, and this aspect could be evaluated in future studies.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that practice of CRT by patients with COPD, based on diaphragmatic respiration, is feasible, well tolerated and effective to improve quality of life and well-being perception in the short term. In COPD patients, adherence to treatment for both breathing and other concomitant medical conditions is lower than in other chronic diseases. However, the patient, due to the chronic nature of his illness, is called to be an active and collaborative agent within the treatment process especially because this chronic condition, in its evolution and prognosis, may vary and often it is accompanied by comorbidity with other diseases or psychological disorders.

This highlights the need for the improvement, also through disease non-traditional programs [23]. Furthermore, despite previous studies have shown that pulmonary rehabilitation programs improve exercise tolerance and improve health-related quality of life, this traditional approach is not always available to all patients with COPD, for high costs and other concomitants factors such as presence of anxiety and depression [22].

CRT, here proposed, appears an additive holistic approach to the traditional clinical practice. However, larger studies will need to confirm these preliminary results, also taking into account long-term psychosocial benefits associated to CRT.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the cooperation of the nursing and medical staff in the study hospital and COPD patients.

References

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Editorial Information

Editor-in-Chief

Cory J. Xian
University of South Australia

Article Type

Research Article

Publication history

Received: February 03, 2021
Accepted: February 19, 2021
Published: February 23, 2021

Copyright

©2021 Mastorci F. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Citation

Mastorci F, Mannucci F, Lazzeri MFL, Passera M, Brucini F, et al. (2021) A controlled respiratory training to improve quality of life and well-being perception in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Biomed Res Clin Prac 6: DOI: 10.15761/BRCP.1000218

Corresponding author

Alessandro Pingitore

Clinical Physiology Institute, CNR, Via Moruzzi, Italy

E-mail : bhuvaneswari.bibleraaj@uhsm.nhs.uk

Table 1. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the population. Data given as mean ± SD. BMI: Body Mass Index; GOLD: Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; CAT: COPD Assessment Test.

Variables

TREAT (n=18)

CTR (N=16)

p

Age

73.83 ± 6.71

74.06 ± 6.38

ns

BMI (Kg/m2)

25.4 ± 3.22

24.8 ± 2.36

ns

Emphysema/ chronic bronchitis (n)

11/7

10/6

ns

GOLD A/B/C/D

5/7/2/4

5/5/3/3

ns

MRC score 0/1/2

2/9/7

1/11/5

ns

CAT score

13.4 ± 5.2

11.5 ± 3.8

ns

Table 2. Psychological variables in both groups n baseline conditions (Pre-CRT) and after 3-months respiratory training (Post-CRT). Data given as mean ± SD. BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; PSS: Perceived Stress Scale; BAI: Beck Anxiety Inventory; PSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; POMS: Profile of Mood States; PGWBI: Psychological General Well-Being Index; GWBI: General Well-Being Index; p§ TREAT Pre-CRT vs TREAT Post-CRT; p# CTR Pre-CRT vs CTR Post-CRT.

 

Variables

Pre-CRT

 

Post-CRT

 

 

 

 

 

TREAT (n=18)

CTR

(n=16)

p

TREAT (n=18)

CTR

(n=16)

p

p§

p#

 

BDI

11.5 ± 6.77

11.31 ± 7.19

=0.84

6.06 ± 5.98

11.18 ± 7.26

<0.05

<0.001

=0.33

 

PSS

16.94 ± 5.91

16.31 ± 5.62

=0.75

10.56 ± 4.64

16.06 ± 5.55

<0.05

<0.001

=0.16

 

BAI

9.11 ± 5.36

8.94 ± 5.22

=0.92

5 ± 4.23

8.56 ± 5.66

=0.05

<0.001

=0.14

 

PSQI

5.83 ± 3.49

6.31 ± 3.11

=0.68

5.83 ± 3.79

6.69 ± 2.36

=0.44

=1

=0.3

POMS

Tension

45.28 ± 7.91

45.88 ± 8.02

=0.83

44 ± 7.78

46.06 ± 6.89

=0.42

=0.31

=0.67

Depression

52.00 ± 9.45

49.06 ± 9.74

=0.38

43.28 ± 5.11

49.06 ± 9.50

<0.05

<0.001

=1

Anger

49.39 ± 7.83

48.06 ± 8.93

=0.65

41.22 ± 6.84

48.25 ± 9.14

<0.01

<0.001

=0.38

Vigor

48.72 ± 11.53

47.88 ± 11.79

=0.83

52.22 ± 12.06

47.75 ± 11.76

=0.35

=0.1

=0.58

Fatigue

47.89 ± 10.78

48.81 ± 10.63

=0.8

47.44 ± 10.23

49 ± 10.51

=0.61

=0.75

=0.33

Confusion

45.44 ± 8.00

46.44 ± 8.59

=0.73

44.56 ± 7.78

46.75 ± 8.9

=0.41

=0.12

=0.33

Total score

240 ± 38.94

238.25 ± 41.46

=0.9

220.5 ± 32.88

239.13 ± 40.48

=0.13

<0.001

=0.21

PGWBI

Anxiety

18 ± 4.07

17.63 ± 4.30

=0.8

18.56 ± 2.23

17.38 ± 4.10

=0.3

=0.51

=0.52

Depressed mood

9.94 ± 0.94

9.44 ± 1.36

=0.21

10 ± 0.97

9.69 ± 1.54

=0.48

=0.83

=0.47

Positive well-being

10.94 ± 1.73

10.81 ± 1.47

=0.81

10.67 ± 1.24

10.69 ± 1.54

00.97

=0.62

=0.54

Self-control

6  ±  1.41

6.13  ±  1.45

=0.8

6  ±  1.28

6.38  ±  1.15

=0.38

=1

=0.47

General health

7.67  ±  1.75

7.44  ±  1.50

=0.69

9.61  ±  2.57

7.31  ±  1.99

<0.001

<0.001

=0.61

Vitality

7  ±  1.91

7.81  ±  1.33

=0.16

10.50  ±  1.89

8.63  ±  2.31

<0.05

<0.001

=1

GWBI

59.56  ±  5.39

59.25  ±  5.78

=0.87

65.33  ±  3.5

60.06  ±  6.31

<0.01

=0.43

=1