The effects of breathing and coughing exercises on respiratory parameters in COVID-19 patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15584/ejcem.2026.1.12Keywords:
cough exercise, COVID-19, deep breathing, nursing care, pneumonia, TriflowAbstract
Introduction and aim. COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system, often resulting in pneumonia and dyspnea that may persist after recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of deep breathing and coughing exercises using a Triflow device on respiratory parameters in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Material and methods. This single-blinded randomized controlled study was conducted with 326 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=163) or a control group (n=163). The experimental group performed exercises for 10 consecutive days. The control group received routine hospital care, which included routine nurse-led monitoring of vital signs, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) assessment, medical treatment per clinical guidelines, and supportive care, but no structured breathing-exercise education. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, chi-square, and post hoc tests.
Results. After 10 days of intervention, Dyspnea-12 scores decreased more markedly in the experimental group than in the control group (mean change −15 vs. −8 points; p<0.001). Arterial oxygen and SpO₂ levels also improved significantly in the experimental group compared to controls (p<0.001), while respiratory rate decreased to a greater extent (p<0.001). No adverse effects were observed.
Conclusion. Deep breathing and coughing exercises with the Trilow device significantly reduced the severity of dyspnea and improved oxygenation in COVID-19 pneumonia patients. These findings suggest that incorporating structured respiratory exercises into standard care may enhance clinical outcomes and support recovery in this population.
Supporting Agencies
This study was funded by a grant from the Bartin University Scientific Research Projects Unit (Grant No: 2021-FEN-A-016).Downloads
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