Buteyko breathing techniques in asthma: a blinded randomised controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Buteyko breathing techniques (BBT) in the management of asthma. Design: Prospective, blinded, randomised study comparing the effect of BET with control classes in 39 subjects with asthma. The study was conducted from January 1995 to April 1995. Participants and setting: Subjects recruited from the community, aged 12 to 70 years, with asthma and substantial medication use. Main outcome measures: Medication use; morning peak expiratory flow (PEF); forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1); end-tidal (ET) CO2; resting minute volume (MV); and quality of life (QOL) score, measured at three months. Results: No change in daily PEF or FEV(1)was noted in either group. At three months, the BET group had a median reduction in daily beta(2)-agonist dose of 904 mu g (range, 29 mu g to 3129 mu g), whereas the control group had a median reduction of 57 mu g (range, -2343 mu g to 1143 mu g) (P= 0.002). Daily inhaled steroid dose fell 49% (range, -100% to 150%) for the BET group and 0 (range, -82% to +100%) for the control group (P=0.06). A trend towards greater improvement in QOL score was noted for BET subjects (P=0.09). Initial MV was high and similar in both groups; by three months, MV was lower in the BET group than in the control group (P=0.004). ET CO2 was low in both groups and did not change with treatment. Conclusion: Those practising BET reduced hyperventilation and their use of beta(2)-agonists. A trend toward reduced inhaled steroid use and better quality of life was observed in these patients without objective changes in measures of airway calibre.