Slow-paced respiration therapy to treat symptoms in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Heart Lung. 2017 Jan-Feb;46(1):7-13. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2016.11.001. Epub 2016 Nov 22.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the feasibility of using slow-paced respiration therapy to treat symptoms in women with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Background: People with PAH report increased dyspnea, fatigue and sleep disturbance that can impair health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: Ten women with PAH received 8-weeks of daily, 15 min sessions using slow-paced respiration therapy via the RESPeRATE™ device. Participants had baseline and follow up assessments including plasma norepinephrine and interleukin-6 (IL-6), self-report questionnaires to measure dyspnea, fatigue, depressive symptoms, sleep and HRQOL along with 7-day actigraphy and sleep diaries.

Results: The mean age was 50 years. Adherence to the intervention was 92%. There was decrease in median IL-6 levels [1.3 ± 0.5 to 1.1 ± 0.4, 95% CI (0.03-0.43)] over the study period. Sleep disturbance decreased, depressive symptoms decreased and HRQOL scores decreased (higher scores indicate worse HRQOL).

Conclusions: In this pilot study, slow-paced respiration therapy is feasible in patients with PAH and may improve symptoms and lower IL-6.

Keywords: Actigraphy; Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Respiration therapy; Sleep disturbance; Symptoms.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Depression / etiology
  • Depression / therapy*
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Fatigue / therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / complications
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / methods*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sleep / physiology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / therapy*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome