Additive Effects of 4-7-8 Breathing Technique With Standard Management on Dyspnea, Pulmonary Function and Quality of Life in Patients With COPD.

A heterogeneous lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, expectoration and/or exacerbations) due to abnormalities of the airways (bronchitis, bronchiolitis) and/or alveoli (emphysema)-- cause persistent, often progressive, airflow obstruction.

Breathing exercises help to manage dyspnea and reduced pulmonary function often seen in COPD patients. To handle respiratory complications COPD patients are advised to practice breathing techniques in conjunction with their prescribed medications.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Dyspnea
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: 4-7-8 breathing along with standard management.; Procedure: Control Group

Detailed Description

COPD is a very common chronic respiratory disease with symptoms (dyspnea, cough, expectoration and/or exacerbations) due to abnormalities of the airways (bronchitis, bronchiolitis) and/or alveoli (emphysema)-- cause persistent, often progressive, airflow obstruction.

Breathing exercises help to manage dyspnea associated with COPD. In order to manage respiratory conditions COPD patients are encouraged for nasal breathing techniques along with standard management. Hence the objective of the study is to compare the effects of 4-7-8 breathing along with standard management versus standard management alone on dyspnea, pulmonary function, and quality of life in patients with COPD.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Islamabad, Pakistan, 44000
    • Foundation University College of Physical Therapy

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults: aged (40-64 years)
• Gender: Both males and females
• Grade1- Grade 1-3 on Modified MRC dyspnea scale
• COPD mild and moderate according to GOLD classification
• Mild: FEV1 > 80% predicted
• Moderate: FEV1 >50% predicted

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe and very severe stage of COPD according to GOLD classification.
• Patients having Acute exacerbation of COPD.
• Patients diagnosed with acute infections.
• Patients unable to follow commands/ instructions.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Interventional group; Patients in interventional group will recieve 4-7-8 breathing along with standard management. For 4-7-8 breathing, Patient is asked sit in comfortable position. Patient is asked place the tip of your tongue up against the back of your front teeth. Keep it there through the entire breathing process. Instruct the patient to breathe in silently through your nose to the count of four (4sec) and Hold your breath to the count of seven (7sec). Exhale through your mouth to the count of eight (8sec), making an audible "whoosh" sound. That completes one full breath. Repeat the cycle another three time, and gradually in increase the cycle four time. Total 4 weeks protocol. Two sessions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and 5 days at home. A home diary will be provided in order to ensure and follow-up that participants are performing breathing exercise at home along with medications prescribed by pulmonologist.	Procedure: 4-7-8 breathing along with standard management.; For 4-7-8 breathing, Patient is asked sit in comfortable position. Patient is asked place the tip of your tongue up against the back of your front teeth. Keep it there through the entire breathing process. Instruct the patient to breathe in silently through your nose to the count of four (4sec) and Hold your breath to the count of seven (7sec). Exhale through your mouth to the count of eight (8sec), making an audible "whoosh" sound. That completes one full breath. Repeat the cycle another three time, and gradually in increase the cycle four time. Total 4 weeks protocol. Two sessions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and 5 days at home. Week 01 and 02 Frequenc: 01 session/day Intensity: Start with comfortable duration. Time: 10 minutes Week 03 and 04 Frequecy: 02 sessions/day Intensity: 4 sec inhale, 7 sec hold and 8 sec exhale Time: 15 minutes
Active Comparator: Control group; Patients will receive medication as prescribed by pulmonologist through stepwise approach according to symptoms and severity. Total 4 weeks protocol. Before and after 4 weeks pre and post interventional values will be taken. Week 01 and 02 Patients will receive medications prescribed by pulmonologist. Week 03 and 04 Patients will receive medications prescribed by pulmonologist.	Procedure: Control Group; Patients will recieve medication as prescribed by pulmonologist through stepwise approach according to symptoms and severity. Total 4 weeks protocol. Before and after 4 weeks pre and post interventional values will be taken. Week 01 and 02 Patients will receive medications prescribed by pulmonologist. Week 03 and 04 Patients will receive medications prescribed by pulmonologist.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dyspnea	Evaluation will be done using Dyspnea-12 questionnaire for dyspnea	4 weeks
pulmonary function	spirometer to measure volume of air inspired and exhale through lungs.	4 weeks
Quality of Life of COPD patients	COPD assessment test (CAT) will be used to evaluate quality of life of COPD patients	4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Foundation University Islamabad

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 15, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 2, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): May 11, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 15, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 9, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: quality of life; pulmonary function; Dyspnea
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Dyspnea; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Research Design; Methods; Control Groups
• Other Study ID Numbers: FUI/CTR/2024/69

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No