DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive, irreversible condition marked by airflow limitation, chronic cough, sputum production, and breathlessness. It is projected to become the fourth leading cause of death globally by 2030. Non-pharmacological interventions such as structured breathing techniques have shown promise in improving oxygen saturation and relieving dyspnea, thereby enhancing respiratory efficiency and quality of life in COPD patients.
Objective: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques (ACBT) and Alternative Nostril Breathing Techniques (ANBT) in improving oxygen saturation and reducing dyspnea among patients with COPD.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 28 COPD patients recruited from Madinah Teaching Hospital, Allied Hospital, Aziz Fatimah Hospital, and DHQ Hospital in Faisalabad. Participants were selected through purposive sampling based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly divided into two equal groups. Group A practiced ANBT and Group B practiced ACBT, each for 10 minutes, twice daily, over three consecutive days. Oxygen saturation was measured before and after intervention using a fingertip pulse oximeter, and dyspnea severity was assessed using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Results: Group B (ACBT) showed a pre- to post-intervention improvement in SpO₂ from 92.41 ± 1.06% to 94.65 ± 1.06% (p < 0.001), while Group A (ANBT) improved from 92.29 ± 1.01% to 93.94 ± 0.90% (p < 0.001). Between-group comparison indicated a statistically significant difference (p=0.01). mMRC dyspnea scores reduced more notably in Group B (from 3.29 ± 0.61 to 2.36 ± 0.93) compared to Group A (from 2.71 ± 0.47 to 1.86 ± 0.54).
Conclusion: Both ACBT and ANBT improved oxygen saturation and reduced dyspnea in COPD patients, with ACBT demonstrating superior outcomes. These findings support the incorporation of ACBT into pulmonary rehabilitation strategies for enhanced respiratory care.