Journal Article

Multi parameter respiratory training for pulmonary rehabilitation in AECOPD a randomized controlled trial

Li, Wei, Hou, Guanhua, Xing, Yinan, Wang, Zishuo, Zhao, Limin

2026

Overview

Early pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, yet challenges like monotony and poor adherence remain. This study evaluated a novel multi-parameter respiratory trainer against traditional methods. In a randomized controlled trial, 90 patients were assigned to three groups: multi-parameter device, three-ball trainer, or pursed-lip breathing, alongside standard medication. The primary outcomes were dyspnea, health status, and exercise capacity, with psychological status and lung function as secondary outcomes. Baseline data were comparable. Post-treatment, the multi-parameter device group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in dyspnea, CAT score, six-minute walking distance, and depression and anxiety scores compared to both traditional groups. For lung function, this group also showed superior improvement in FEV1 change versus the pursed-lip breathing group. All three groups showed significant within-group improvements. The intervention was safe, with no adverse events reported. Under supervised inpatient conditions, the multi-parameter respiratory training device is safe and effective for short-term pulmonary rehabilitation in AECOPD patients, offering superior improvements in patient-centered outcomes compared with conventional methods. However, the evidence is limited to supervised inpatient settings, and the device should be considered a complementary option to, not a replacement for, basic respiratory training when resources permit.