Palliative Care in Critical Care and Cardiac and Pulmonary DisordersSlow-paced respiration therapy to treat symptoms in pulmonary arterial hypertension

•A pilot study of 10 women there was 100% retention and high adherence to the 8-week slow-paced respiration therapy intervention.•Slow-paced respiration therapy was associated with reduced plasma IL-6 levels and no serious adverse events occurred.•Preliminary results suggest decreased wake after sleep onset, increased sleep efficiency and increased total sleep time.•Depressive symptoms decreased and HRQOL scores decreased (higher HRQOL scores indicate worse HRQOL.

ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility of using slow-paced respiration therapy to treat symptoms in women with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).BackgroundPeople with PAH report increased dyspnea, fatigue and sleep disturbance that can impair health-related quality of life (HRQOL).MethodsTen women with PAH received 8-weeks of daily, 15 min sessions using slow-paced respiration therapy via the RESPeRATE™ device. Participants had baseline and follow up assessments including plasma norepinephrine and interleukin-6 (IL-6), self-report questionnaires to measure dyspnea, fatigue, depressive symptoms, sleep and HRQOL along with 7-day actigraphy and sleep diaries.ResultsThe mean age was 50 years. Adherence to the intervention was 92%. There was decrease in median IL-6 levels [1.3 ± 0.5 to 1.1 ± 0.4, 95% CI (0.03-0.43)] over the study period. Sleep disturbance decreased, depressive symptoms decreased and HRQOL scores decreased (higher scores indicate worse HRQOL).ConclusionsIn this pilot study, slow-paced respiration therapy is feasible in patients with PAH and may improve symptoms and lower IL-6.