EFFECTS OF BREATHING EXERCISES ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN ASTHMA PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a respiratory condition that causes airways to narrow and swell and can result in increased mucus production. Symptoms can significantly impact quality of life, participation in daily activities, and performance at school or work. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of breathing exercises on the quality of life in patients with asthma. Methods: An article search was conducted using PubMed and Embase databases on October 30, 2020. Search terms related to patients with asthma, breathing exercises, and quality of life were used. The following filters were applied: English, publication within the last 10 years, clinical trials, and RCTs. All articles were screened for quality usi ng the PEDro database. Results: Seven randomized control trials were included in this review. Six of the seven articles revealed statistically significant improvements in quality of life within the intervention groups and/or between intervention and cont rol groups. Conclusion: The findings of this review support that breathing exercises could be added to the treatment of patients with asthma to positively impact their quality of life. Possible limitations of this review are the varying breathing techniques used in the intervention groups and varying measures of quality of life.