Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Airway Clearance
Conditions
Keywords
COPD, Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure, Autogenic Drainage, Physiotherapy, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Airway Clearance Techniques
Brief summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-term lung condition that causes breathing difficulty, cough, and sputum production. Airway clearance techniques are commonly used to help reduce symptoms and improve breathing in patients with COPD. This study compared two airway clearance methods-oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) therapy and autogenic drainage-to determine which method is more effective in improving lung function, sputum clearance, shortness of breath, and quality of life in patients with COPD. Participants were divided into two groups and received either OPEP therapy or autogenic drainage for four weeks. Outcomes were measured at the beginning of the study and again after completion of the intervention. The findings of this study aim to support evidence-based physiotherapy management for patients with COPD.
Detailed description
This study was a comparative interventional clinical trial conducted to evaluate the effects of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy versus autogenic drainage in patients diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional ethics review committee prior to study initiation, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Eligible participants with stable COPD were enrolled and allocated into two intervention groups. Baseline assessments were performed prior to the initiation of treatment. Participants in the first group received oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy as part of their airway clearance regimen, while participants in the second group were treated using autogenic drainage techniques. Both interventions were administered over a four-week period. Outcome measures were assessed at two time points: baseline (pre-intervention) and after completion of the four-week intervention period. Pulmonary function was evaluated using spirometry. Sputum clearance was assessed using the Breathlessness Cough Sputum Scale (BCSS). Dyspnea was measured using the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale, and quality of life was assessed using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT). The results of this study aim to compare the effectiveness of the two airway clearance techniques and provide evidence to guide clinical decision-making in the physiotherapy management of patients with COPD.
Interventions
DEVICEOscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy
Oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy was administered using a handheld device to facilitate airway clearance by providing expiratory resistance and oscillations during exhalation. The intervention was applied for four weeks.
BEHAVIORALAutogenic Drainage
Autogenic drainage is a breathing technique involving controlled breathing at different lung volumes to mobilize and clear bronchial secretions. Participants performed autogenic drainage sessions for four weeks.
Sponsors
Adnan Hashim
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation to minimize assessment bias. Participants and care providers were not blinded due to the nature of the interventions.
Intervention model description
Participants were allocated into two parallel groups to receive either oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy or autogenic drainage for a four-week intervention period.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
35 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age between 35 and 50 years * Both genders * Participants must have a confirmed diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) based on the GOLD 2023 guidelines * Clinically stable * History of Sputum Culture
Exclusion criteria
* Acute exacerbation of COPD * Severe cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders * Recent thoracic or abdominal surgery * Presence of other significant respiratory diseases * Unwillingness to participate or inability to comply with the study protocol
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV₁ % Predicted) | Baseline and at 4 weeks | Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry by measuring forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), expressed as percentage of the predicted value, in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Sputum Clearance as Measured by the Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale (BCSS) | Baseline and at 4 weeks | Sputum clearance was assessed using the Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale (BCSS). The BCSS is a patient-reported outcome measure consisting of three items (breathlessness, cough, and sputum), each scored from 0 to 4, resulting in a total score range of 0 to 12. Higher scores indicate worse symptoms. |
| Change in Dyspnea Severity as Measured by the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale | Baseline and at 4 weeks | Dyspnea severity was assessed using the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale, a numerical rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no breathlessness and 10 represents maximal breathlessness. Higher scores indicate greater perceived dyspnea. |
| Change in Health-Related Quality of Life as Measured by the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) | Baseline and at 4 weeks | Health-related quality of life was assessed using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), an 8-item questionnaire with total scores ranging from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate worse health status and greater impact of COPD on daily life. |
Countries
Pakistan
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAdnan Hashim, DPT
Department of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore
Outcome results
None listed