Music therapy in pediatric asthma improves pulmonary function while reducing hospitalizations

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Complementary Medicine
• Behavioral Pediatrics

Background:

• Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition in children requiring effective management strategies.
• Standard asthma care can be augmented with complementary therapies to improve patient outcomes.
• Music therapy (MT) has shown potential benefits in various health conditions, but its role in pediatric asthma needs further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of music therapy (MT) as an adjunct to standard care for pediatric asthma.
• To determine MT's impact on pulmonary function, healthcare utilization, and quality of life in children with asthma.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 173 pediatric patients with asthma.
• Participants were assigned to three groups: individualized MT, group MT, or standard care (control).
• Outcomes measured included pulmonary function tests (FEV1, FVC, FEF25-75, PEF), hospitalizations, ER visits, missed school days, and quality of life (Juniper).

Main Results:

• Music therapy groups showed significant improvements in FEV1/FVC ratio compared to the control group.
• The Music Plus group demonstrated significant improvement in FEF25-75 and a marked reduction in hospitalizations (1.16 fewer per patient-year).
• Caregivers reported significant improvements in their children's quality of life in both MT groups compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Music therapy presents a promising, low-risk complementary intervention for improving pediatric asthma management.
• MT positively impacts key clinical outcomes, including pulmonary function, hospitalizations, and quality of life.
• Further research is warranted to integrate MT into routine pediatric asthma care protocols.