Research Article
Salt Halo Therapy and Saline Inhalation Administered to Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Pilot Study
Ulla Møller Weinreich1,2*, Tove Nilsson3, Lone Mylund1, Helle Thaarup Christiansen4 and Birgitte Schantz Laursen51Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark
2The Clinical Institute, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark
3Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Denmark
4Department of Respiratory Diseases, Sygehus Vendsyssel Frederikshavn, Denmark
5The Clinical Nursing Research Unit, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark
- *Corresponding Author:
- Ulla Møller Weinreich
Department of Pulmonary Diseases
Mølle Parkvej 4, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Tel: 459764735
E-mail: umw@dadlnet.dk
Received date: June 01, 2014; Accepted date: August 27, 2014; Published date: September 6, 2014
Citation: Weinreich UM, Nilsson T, Mylund L, Christiansen HT, Laursen BS (2014) Salt Halo Therapy and Saline Inhalation Administered to Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Pilot Study. J Palliat Care Med 4:185. doi: 10.4172/2165-7386.1000185
Copyright: © 2014 Weinreich UM, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterised by progressive airflow limitation associated dyspnea and impaired quality of life. Halo therapy has been suggested to relieve respiratory discomfort in patients with COPD.
Aim: The aim of this study was to study the effect of halo therapy and isotonic saline inhalation, compared to controls, in COPD patients.
Material and methods: In this pilot cohort study 67 patients with COPD, GOLD stage 3 and 4, were included. Patients were assigned to 3 different groups; group 1 receiving 20 sessions of 45 minutes halo therapy with dry aerosols of salt less than 5 μm over 5 weeks, group 2 inhaling 5 ml isotonic Saline over 5 minutes, 5 weeks, 3 times per day and group 3 as controls. Spirometry, 6 minute walking test, dyspnea-score (MRC) and Quality-of-life (SGRQ) score was investigated at inclusion and at termination of the study.
Results: Group 1 improved walking distance 75 meters (p<0.01), SGRQ -6.66 points (p<0.05) and FEV1 0.4liters (2%), (p>0.05), during the treatment period. Group 2 improved FEV1 0.7 litres (3%) (p<0.05) and walkingdistance 90 metres (p<0.01). There was a drop out of 28% (7/25) in this group due to discomfort. Group 3 reduced MRC 1 point (p<0.05) and FEV1 0.6 litres (2%) (p = 0.051) during the observation period.
Conclusion: Both Halo therapy and saline inhalation improved walking distance and FEV1 in patients. SGRQ improved in patients treated with halo therapy. Halo therapy appeared to be better tolerated than saline therapy.
