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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
Published on: September 16, 2019
Effects of guided deep breathing on breathlessness and the breathing pattern in chronic obstructive pulmonary
Christine R Borge1, Anne Marit Mengshoel2, Ernst Omenaas3
1Department of Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Medicine, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Objective:
To investigate whether guided deep breathing using a device improves breathlessness, quality of life, and breathing pattern in moderate and severe stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Methods:
In total, 150 patients participated in a double-blind randomized controlled trial in a four-week intervention and a four-month follow-up. Participants were randomized into a guided deep breathing group (GDBG), music listening group (MLG), or sitting still group (SSG). The patients' symptom score using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and a Global Rating Change scale (GRC) was applied to measure breathlessness as primary outcome. The activity score and impact score of SRGQ, and breathing pattern were secondary outcomes.
Results:
Positive effects of the GDBG were detected in GRC scale in breathlessness at four weeks (p=0.03) with remaining effect compared to MLG (p=0.04), but not to SSG at four months follow-up. GDBG showed positive effect for respiratory rate (p<0.001) at four weeks follow-up. A positive significant change (p<0.05-0.01) was found in all groups of SGRQ symptom score.
Conclusion:
GDBG had a beneficial effect on respiratory pattern and breathlessness. MLG and SSG also yielded significant improvements.
Practice Implications:
Guided deep breathing may be used as a self-management procedure.
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