Singing for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Respiratory Health
• Singing Therapy

Background:

• Singing is a complex activity requiring significant respiratory control.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves progressive airflow obstruction.
• Singing interventions show potential for improving health outcomes in COPD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of singing on health-related quality of life.
• To assess the effect of singing on dyspnoea in individuals with COPD.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified through major databases.
• Included studies involved structured, supervised singing training (≥4 sessions over 4 weeks).
• Compared singing interventions against no intervention or pulmonary rehabilitation.

Main Results:

• Three low-quality studies (112 participants) were included.
• Singing significantly improved SF-36 Physical Component Summary scores (low-quality evidence).
• No significant improvements were observed in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire or Baseline Dyspnoea Index scores.

Conclusions:

• Singing appears safe for people with COPD and may enhance physical health.
• Current evidence is limited by small sample sizes and low study quality.
• Further high-quality RCTs with long-term follow-up are needed to confirm benefits and explore combined interventions.