Protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect on asthma-related quality of life from breathing retraining in patients with incomplete asthma control attending specialist care in Denmark

What is it about?

Breathing retraining provided is efficacious in improving asthma-related quality of life in asthma patients in primary care. However, asthma patients with symptoms despite adherence to medications are often referred from primary care to pulmonologists for work-up and assessment. Currently, it is unknown whether breathing retraining is efficacious in this cohort of asthma patients.

This study will investigate if these patients can improve asthma-related quality of life using breathing retaining delivered by physiotherapist at seven hospitals throughout Denmark. The study will include 190 participants, which are randomised to usual care with or without breathing retraining. All participants given breathing retraining will be trained in optimized breathing pattern and relaxation techniques. This design strengthens the generalizability to real life.

If we find an improvement in asthma-related quality of life, breathing retraining should be offered to asthma patients with suboptimal asthma control in secondary care as well as in primary care.

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