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Buteyko Institute Method (BIM) Clinical Trials
International update
The Gisborne Trial - Dr Patrick McHugh, GP, Medical Director of Emergency Dept, Gisborne Hospital, New Zealand.
Presented at the 2nd International Buteyko Conference, Melbourne Australia, July 27, 2002.

Buteyko Breathing Techniques in Asthma.

Researchers: Fergus Aitcheson, Liz Buckley, Patrick McHugh, Bruce Duncan, Dennis Butcher.

Research Questions:
  • Is BIM effective in significantly reducing the need for beta 2 agonist use in asthmatics?
  • Is BIM effective in significantly reducing the need for inhaled steroid use in asthmatics?
  • Does instruction in BIM result in improved quality of life in asthmatics (as perceived by the patient)?
  • Does BIM result in improved or normalised lung function as measured by reduced minute volume ventilation rates, end tidal CO2 levels and FEV1/PEF?

    Design: A prospective, blinded, randomised study comparing the effect of BIM with asthma education in 40 subjects with asthma. The study was conducted from February to October 2000.

    Participants: Subjects recruited from the community (utilising General Practitioners) with asthma and significant medication use.

    Main Outcome Measures:
  • Medication use
  • Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)
  • End tidal CO2 levels
  • Resting minute volumes
  • Quality of life (QOL) score
    With these measured at commencement, three months and six months.

    Differences to Brisbane Study:
  • Participants followed for 6 months (compared to 3 months in Brisbane) post instruction.
  • Phone contacts following instruction matched.
  • Asthma education did allow educator preforming "control" education to use breathing exercises with some of these involving hypoventilation.

    Results:
  • Mean reduction in Beta-agonist use

    BIMControl
    At 6 weeks94%56%p=0.001
    3 months86%51%p=0.007
    6 months85%37%p=0.102

  • Mean reduction in inhaled steroid use

    BIMControl
    At 6 weeks34%-10%p=0.032
    3 months36%-2%p=0.011
    6 months50%-1%p=0.003

  • No significant improvement in quality of life among those assigned to the BBT compared with the control group was discerned using the AQLQ.
  • No significant differences were sustained over 6 months in PEF/FEV1, end tidal CO2 or minute volumes between treatment and control group.

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