Nonpharmacologic Therapy for Severe Persistent Asthma

Abstract

The treatment of asthma largely depends on guideline-based pharmacologic therapies. However, nonpharmacologic therapies for asthma such as pulmonary rehabilitation, focused breathing techniques, and bronchial thermoplasty have an important, yet underappreciated, role. Structured pulmonary rehabilitation programs can reduce dyspnea and increase cardiopulmonary fitness. The educational component of these programs can ensure that therapies are being used appropriately, increase compliance, and decrease health care utilization. Studies have demonstrated a reduction in inflammatory mediators in patients with asthma who are engaged in an exercise program. Focused breathing techniques are commonly used by patients with asthma, yet benefit has not been clearly shown in randomized controlled trials. For the patients with severe asthma who are unresponsive to maximum medical therapy and have evidence of airway remodeling, bronchial thermoplasty has demonstrated long-term improvement in quality of life and reduction in severe exacerbations and health care utilization. Recent airway biopsy studies have demonstrated bronchial thermoplasty's disease-modifying effect on smooth muscle, inflammatory mediators, and bronchial nerve endings. These nonpharmacologic therapies are complementary to current guideline-based treatment, including the use of biologic modifiers, for severe asthma.

Keywords: Breathing techniques; Bronchial thermoplasty; Nonpharmacologic therapy; Pulmonary rehabilitation.