Effects Of The Elastic Tape On Dyspnea, Health Status, And Health-Related Quality Of Life In Individuals With Copd: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Subjects with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) present ventilatory inefficiency that leads to worsening in dyspnea. Elastic tape (ET) is a novel intervention that improves thoracoabdominal synchrony. Aims: To evaluate the effects of the ET on dyspnea, health status, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in COPD. Methods: This prospective, blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial enrolled non-obese males with moderate to severe COPD. Subjects were randomly allocated to intervention (ETG) or control (CG) groups. ET was placed in the chest wall and abdomen, and the intervention lasted 14 days. The CG received usual care. Transitional dyspnea (TDI), health status (CAT), anxiety and depression symptoms (HADS), and health-related quality of life (CRQ) were evaluated at baseline and after 7 and 14 days. Two-way ANOVA followed by Holm-Sidak was used to compare groups. Results: TDI domains improved in the ETG compared with GC after 7 and 14 days of intervention, respectively: functional (1.7±2 vs 0.4±1, p=0.02; 2.7±1 vs 0±0, p≤0.001), and effort (1.8±1 vs 0.3±1, p=0.01; 2.3±1 vs -0.1±1, p<0.001). Also, the TDI task domain presented a minimal clinically important difference (MCDI; ≥1 point) (1.5±1 vs 0.2±0; 2.0±1 vs 0.3±1). HADS-a symptoms (≥1.32 points; 2.3±3 vs 5.9±2) and CRQ total and emotional scores also presented MCDI (≥0.5 points) after 14 days (65±11 vs 72±12; 5.4±1 vs 6.0±1). No difference was observed in the CAT score. Conclusion: ET reduces dyspnea and anxiety symptoms and improves HRQoL in individuals with moderate to severe COPD. ET seems a novel therapeutic option to reduce dyspnea in this population.