CompletedNot Applicable

Breathing Exercises in Asthma Targeting Dysfunctional Breathing

Denmark193 participantsStarted 2017-04-27

Plain-language summary

Dyspnoe can disable patients with asthma. Dysfunctional breathing (DB), resulting in dyspnoe, can mimic or exaggerate asthma. Around every forth patient with asthma have DB. Breathing exercises (BrEX) can improve asthma-related quality of live (QOL) in less severe asthma. No study has investigated the effect of BrEX on QOL neither on level of physical activity in severe asthma. A randomised controlled multicentre trial will include 190 adults with poor asthma control (Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ6)-score≥0.8) from seven outpatient departments and one specialized private clinic. Patients will be allocated to either usual care (no intervention) or breathing exercises (BrEX)-treatment consisting of 12-week intervention including three physiotherapist-sessions focusing on breathing pattern modification (Papworth Method; Buteyko technique) in rest and activity and 10 minutes home-exercise twice daily. Primary outcome is change in Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ) at six-months follow-up.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Referred from GP to a secondary, out-patient respiratory clinic for lack of asthma control * Pulmonologist-diagnosed asthma * ≥ 2 consultations at a pulmonologist-lead asthma clinic * ACQ6 ≥0.8 * Able to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Trained in breathing exercises by physiotherapist last 6 months * Aged \<18 * Pregnancy * Not able to speak, read or understand Danish * Any severe disease as judged by the responsible physician * Participating in another pulmonary interventional research-project.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial focused on 'dysfunctional breathing' alongside asthma — how would you determine whether my breathing problems are dysfunctional breathing, true asthma, or a combination of both, and does that distinction change how you'd treat me?
2Since this trial has already been completed and was measuring quality of life using the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, have the results been published, and do they show whether breathing exercises made a meaningful difference for patients like me?
3Breathing exercise programs can vary a lot — do you know what specific techniques were used in this trial, such as Buteyko or physiotherapy-led methods, and are any of those already available to me outside of a trial setting?
4Given that this was a non-drug, behavioral intervention study with no listed phase, what do we know about whether breathing exercises are safe to try alongside my current asthma medications, or could they interfere in any way?
5If the results from this trial suggest breathing exercises helped, would you recommend I try that approach now, or is there a standard treatment we should prioritize first before exploring complementary techniques like this?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ)

Timeframe: Primary endpoint: Change from baseline to 6 months follow up. Secondary endpoints will be 3 and 12 months follow up.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03127059

SponsorNaestved Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2020-04-14

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Dysfunctional Breathing in Asthma trials