Effectiveness of baseline therapy and respiratory biofeedback in children with asthma and psychogenic dyspnea

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown that biofeedback therapy is effective in adults with asthma combined with anxiety states and hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) (A.E. Meuret et al., 2007). However, children with asthma are more prone to anxiety states and psychogenic dyspnea (PD), while the baseline therapy of children with steroids and bronchodilators is less effective than with adults (W.D. Carroll et al.,2012).

Aim: To study the effects of respiratory BFB on the effectiveness of baseline therapy in children with asthma combined with psychogenic dyspnea.

Methods: The study involved 63 children from 7 to 15 years of age with the diagnosis of asthma with the symptoms of PD and HVS. The children were admitted to the hospital for choosing a baseline treatment of asthma according to the GINA. The biofeedback group received a course (7–10) of 20-minute respiratory BFB sessions. The level of asthma control was assessed after 1 month of baseline therapy.

Results: At the admission to the hospital, the average values of FEV₁, PetCO₂ and breath rate (BR) were similar in both groups. All children in the control group (n=30) and biofeedback group (n=33) needed additional inhalations of ABAA. After 3-4 weeks of adequate baseline therapy, PetCO₂ and FEV₁ increased in the BFB group, while these indicators in the control group did not change. Twenty six out of 33 children from the BFB group stopped using ABAA, which was significantly higher (p <0.01), than the control group where only 8 of 30 children stopped using ABAA.

Conclusion: The method of respiratory BFB enhances the effectiveness of baseline therapy in children with asthma combined with HVS and psychogenic dyspnea.