Comparison of the effects of Buteyko and pranayama breathing techniques on quality of life in patients with asthma - a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

To compare two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) with a control group in patients with asthma.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SUBJECTS

One hundred and twenty subjects were randomized to three groups through block randomization. Subjects with an Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score <5.5 participated in the study.

SETTING

Outpatient pulmonary medicine department.

INTERVENTIONS

Subjects in the Buteyko and pranayama groups were trained for 3-5 days and instructed to practise the exercises for 15 minutes twice daily, and for three months duration. The control group underwent routine pharmacological management during the study period.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, Asthma Control Questionnaire and pulmonary function test.

RESULTS

The baseline characteristics were similar in all three groups. Post intervention, the Buteyko group showed better trends of improvement (mean (95% confidence interval), P-value) in total Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score than the pranayama (0.47 (-0.008-0.95), P = 0.056) and control groups (0.97 (0.48-1.46), P = 0.0001). In comparison between the pranayama and control groups, pranayama showed significant improvement (0.50 (0.01-0.98), P = 0.042) in total Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score.

CONCLUSION

The Buteyko group showed better trends of improvement in quality of life and asthma control than the group performing the pranayama breathing exercise.