Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD)NCT07875036
Comparative Effects of Coherent Breathing and Regular Paced Breathing on Dyspnea and Pulmonary Function in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
A study testing Coherent Breathing Group A and Regular Paced Breathing Group B in people with Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD), run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an inflammatory condition of airways characterized by recurrent episodes of coughing, respiratory muscle weakness, lung hyperinflation and air trapping which ultimately leads to dyspnea, impaired pulmonary function and reduced quality of life. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD)
- What is being tested?
- Coherent Breathing Group A and Regular Paced Breathing Group B
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 46 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 11 Feb 2026to 15 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 40-75 years.
- Both genders (male and females).
- Diagnosed COPD mild to moderate stage according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification:
- Mild: FEV1 ≥ 80% predicted Moderate: FEV1 fall between 50-79%
- Diagnosed with COPD for at least 6 months prior to enrollment in study
- Resting SpO₂ ≥ 90% on room air
Who cannot join
- Severe and very severe stage of COPD according to GOLD classification
- Patients having acute exacerbation of COPD with in the last 4 weeks
- Hemodnamically unstable patients
- Current smokers (active smoking or individuals using any tobacco product within the 6 months)
- Other sgnificant respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, bronchiectasis, ILD, active tuberculosis)
- Patients unable to follow commands/instructions
- Patients currently participating in any other structured pulmonary rehabilitation or breathing intervention program
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Foundation University Islamabad
Rawalpindi, 46000
Zara Khalid, PhD, +92333-5415822, zara.khalid@fui.edu.pk
About this study
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an inflammatory condition of airways characterized by recurrent episodes of coughing, respiratory muscle weakness, lung hyperinflation and air trapping which ultimately leads to dyspnea, impaired pulmonary function and reduced quality of life.
Non- pharmacological approaches, particularly breathing retraining techniques, have gained recognition as complementary strategies for optimizing COPD management by improving overall functional status and exercise tolerance in the patients.
Read the detailed description
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a progressive lung condition which is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that gradually worsens over time.
The alveolar air sacs become damaged, and bronchial tubes narrow due to inflammation and increased mucus production. Theses structural and inflammatory changes significantly impair the airflow, reduce the efficiency of gas exchage and make the breathing dfficult.
Breathing exercises are an important component of non-pharmacological management in patients with COPD.
Among different breathing techniques, coherent breathing and regular paced breathing have been used to promote controlled respiratory patterns and improve breathing efficiency.
A total of 46 participants will be allocated into two groups. Group A will perform Coherent breathing and Group B will perform Regular Paced breathing along with pharmacological management.
The objective of this study is to compare the effects of Coherent Breathing versus Regular Paced Breathing on dyspnea, pulmonary function and quality of life in patients with COPD.
- Being tested
- Coherent Breathing Group A, Regular Paced Breathing Group B
- Keywords
- COPD, Coherent breathing, Regular paced breathing, Dyspnea, Pulmonary function
- Medical subject headings
- Lung Diseases, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Dyspnea
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Coherent Breathing Group AOther
Participants in this group will perform coherent breathing exercises in addition to standard pharmacological management. The intervention will consist of two supervised sessions per week, conducted by a physiotherapist, for a total duration of 4 weeks. Exercises will be performed according to the participant's tolerance and clinical condition.
Regular Paced Breathing Group BOther
Regular paced breathing along with pharmacological management. Description: Patients in this group will perform regular paced breathing along with pharmacological management. A total 4 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 sessions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and 3 days at home.
Regular Paced Breathing includes:
The patient will be instructed to sit comfortably in an upright position with back supported and feet flat on floor.
Patient will be guided to breathe at a normal, comfortable pace of 12-15 breaths/min. Inhale gently through nose for about 2 seconds. Exhale gently through mouth for about 2-3 seconds. Patients will be instructed not to hold their breath and do not take deep breaths. Participants will be instructed to maintain a record of their daily breathing practices.
It will be performed for 8-10 minutes per session with rest breaks in between.
Pharmacological management: Patient will receive medications as per prescribed by pulmonologist.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Coherent Breathing Group A | Experimental | Patients in this group will perform coherent breathing along with pharmacological management.
Two sessions per week, supervised by physiotherapist will be conducted for a total of 4 weeks. Receives: Other: Coherent Breathing Group A |
| Regular Paced Breathing Group B | Active comparator | Patients in this group will perform regular paced breathing along with pharmacological management.
Two sessions per week, supervised by physiotherapist will be conducted for a total of 4 weeks. Receives: Other: Regular Paced Breathing Group B |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Dyspnea
Dyspnea will be assessed using the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC), which ranges from 0 to 4, where 0 indicates breathlessness only during strenuous exercise and 4 indicates severe breathlessness that limits activities such as leaving the house or dressing. Higher scores indicate greater severity of dyspnea and worse functional status.
Measured: 4 weeks
Pulmonary Function
Pulmonary function will be assessed using spirometry by measuring forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the FEV₁/FVC ratio. Forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity will be recorded in liters and, where available, as percentages of predicted values. The FEV₁/FVC ratio will be expressed as a percentage. Lower values generally indicate poorer pulmonary function, although interpretation will be based on the individual spirometric parameters and appropriate reference values.
Measured: 04 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Oct 2026
- Study start11 Feb 2026
- Primary completion15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This is a randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group (Interventional Group A) wil perform Coherent Breathing along with pharmacological management and the other group (Control Group B) will perform Regular Paced Breathing alongwith pharmacological management.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University Islamabad
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07875036
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HiraWaqarCPT/FUCP-27
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Coherent Breathing and Regular Paced Breathing on Dyspnea and Pulmonary Function in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07875036
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HiraWaqarCPT/FUCP-27
- Keywords
- COPD, Coherent breathing, Regular paced breathing, Dyspnea, Pulmonary function
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University IslamabadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an inflammatory condition of airways characterized by recurrent episodes of coughing, respiratory muscle weakness, lung hyperinflation and air trapping which ultimately leads to dyspnea, impaired pulmonary function and reduced quality of life.
Non- pharmacological approaches, particularly breathing retraining techniques, have gained recognition as complementary strategies for optimizing COPD management by improving overall functional status and exercise tolerance in the patients.
Detailed description
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a progressive lung condition which is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that gradually worsens over time.
The alveolar air sacs become damaged, and bronchial tubes narrow due to inflammation and increased mucus production. Theses structural and inflammatory changes significantly impair the airflow, reduce the efficiency of gas exchage and make the breathing dfficult.
Breathing exercises are an important component of non-pharmacological management in patients with COPD.
Among different breathing techniques, coherent breathing and regular paced breathing have been used to promote controlled respiratory patterns and improve breathing efficiency.
A total of 46 participants will be allocated into two groups. Group A will perform Coherent breathing and Group B will perform Regular Paced breathing along with pharmacological management.
The objective of this study is to compare the effects of Coherent Breathing versus Regular Paced Breathing on dyspnea, pulmonary function and quality of life in patients with COPD.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This is a randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group (Interventional Group A) wil perform Coherent Breathing along with pharmacological management and the other group (Control Group B) will perform Regular Paced Breathing alongwith pharmacological management.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Coherent Breathing Group A | Experimental | Other: Coherent Breathing Group APatients in this group will perform coherent breathing along with pharmacological management. Two sessions per week, supervised by physiotherapist will be conducted for a total of 4 weeks. |
| Regular Paced Breathing Group B | Active comparator | Other: Regular Paced Breathing Group BPatients in this group will perform regular paced breathing along with pharmacological management. Two sessions per week, supervised by physiotherapist will be conducted for a total of 4 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age between 40-75 years.
- Both genders (male and females).
- Diagnosed COPD mild to moderate stage according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification:
- Mild: FEV1 ≥ 80% predicted Moderate: FEV1 fall between 50-79%
- Diagnosed with COPD for at least 6 months prior to enrollment in study
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Severe and very severe stage of COPD according to GOLD classification
- Patients having acute exacerbation of COPD with in the last 4 weeks
- Hemodnamically unstable patients
- Current smokers (active smoking or individuals using any tobacco product within the 6 months)
- Other sgnificant respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, bronchiectasis, ILD, active tuberculosis)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Coherent Breathing Group AParticipants in this group will perform coherent breathing exercises in addition to standard pharmacological management. The intervention will consist of two supervised sessions per week, conducted by a physiotherapist, for a total duration of 4 weeks. Exercises will be performed according to the participant's tolerance and clinical condition. | Other | Coherent Breathing Group A |
| Regular Paced Breathing Group BRegular paced breathing along with pharmacological management. Description: Patients in this group will perform regular paced breathing along with pharmacological management. A total 4 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 sessions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and 3 days at home. Regular Paced Breathing includes: The patient will be instructed to sit comfortably in an upright position with back supported and feet flat on floor. Patient will be guided to breathe at a normal, comfortable pace of 12-15 breaths/min. Inhale gently through nose for about 2 seconds. Exhale gently through mouth for about 2-3 seconds. Patients will be instructed not to hold their breath and do not take deep breaths. Participants will be instructed to maintain a record of their daily breathing practices. It will be performed for 8-10 minutes per session with rest breaks in between. Pharmacological management: Patient will receive medications as per prescribed by pulmonologist. | Other | Regular Paced Breathing Group B |
Primary outcome
Dyspnea
Time frame: 4 weeks
Dyspnea will be assessed using the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC), which ranges from 0 to 4, where 0 indicates breathlessness only during strenuous exercise and 4 indicates severe breathlessness that limits activities such as leaving the house or dressing. Higher scores indicate greater severity of dyspnea and worse functional status.
Pulmonary Function
Time frame: 04 weeks
Pulmonary function will be assessed using spirometry by measuring forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the FEV₁/FVC ratio. Forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity will be recorded in liters and, where available, as percentages of predicted values. The FEV₁/FVC ratio will be expressed as a percentage. Lower values generally indicate poorer pulmonary function, although interpretation will be based on the individual spirometric parameters and appropriate reference values.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Oct 2026.
Related trials for Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD)
Recruiting
Lungs on Fire: Wildfire Smoke, Incident Diseases, Susceptible Populations, and Community Values in Canada
Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Enrolling by invitationObservational study
Firefighter's Longitudinal Airway and Respiratory Exposome/Multiome Study (FLARES)
Anosmia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Not yet recruitingPhase 2
Phase 2b Efficacy and Safety Study of AERO-007, an Inhaled LABA+LAMA Combination for Nebulization Delivery in COPD Patients
COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Not yet recruitingPhase 3
Study of Fluticasone/Formoterol/Glycopyrronium for the Treatment Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (TRIPLAR)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
RecruitingObservational study
Collection of Airway, Blood and/or Urine Specimens From Subjects for Research Studies
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Smoking
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Coherent Breathing Group A and Regular Paced Breathing Group B in people with Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD), run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Hira Waqar, MS-CPPT (+92343-9515265, hirawaqar7991@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Dyspnea (time frame: 4 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Oct 2026.