EFFECT OF N-ACETYLCYSTEINE COMBINED WITH BADUANJIN EXERCISE AND RESPIRATORY FUNCTION TRAINING ON PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AT STABLE STAGE

Guangming Qing¹, Yuanyuan Feng^{1, 2, *}

¹Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu Sichuan 610041- 2Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an Sichuan 625014

Introduction: To evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine(NAC) combined with Baduanjin exercise and respiratory function training on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

Materials and methods: 72 patients with stable COPD were randomly divided into Baduanjin group, breathing exercise group, taijiquan + breathing exercise group and acetylcysteine tablet control group (18 cases each). Patients in the control group were given symptomatic treatment such as oxygen inhalation and expectorant according to their condition. Baduanjin group was added to exercise twice a day on the basis of symptomatic treatment, twice for each exercise; Breathing exercise group, on the basis of symptomatic treatment, added contraction lip abdominal breathing, 3 times a day, 15 min each; Taijiquan + breathing exercise group was added Baduanjin exercise combined with lip contraction abdominal breathing on the basis of symptomatic treatment, the method was the same as the above two groups. Lung function was observed in all patients before treatment and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment[Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), percentage of FEV1 in the estimated value (FEV1%),Forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1 /FVC), 6-minute walking distance (6MWT), COPD assessment test (CAT score), and acute exacerbations. 

Result: Patients in each group before and after treatment FEV1, FEV1% and FEV1/FVC showed no significant difference (P>0.05). After treatment, there was no significant difference in 6MWT between the control group and the control group (P>0.05). At 6 and 12 months after treatment, Baduanjin group, breathing exercise group and Baduanjin + breathing exercise group were significantly longer than those before treatment (P<0.05). And 12 months after treatment, the Baduanjin + breathing exercise group was significantly longer than the Baduanjin group, breathing exercise group and western medicine control group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in CAT score between the control group and the control group at each period after treatment 6 and 12 months after treatment, CAT scores of Baduanjin group, Baduanjin breathing exercise group and Baduanjin + breathing exercise group were significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in The Times of hospitalization due to acute aggravation among all groups (P>0.05), and the average length of hospitalization in Baduanjin group, Baduanjin breathing exercise group and Baduanjin + breathing exercise group was significantly reduced compared with the control group (P<0.05). 

Conclusion: Both Baduanjin and lip-shrinking breathing can improve the activity and quality of life of COPD patients in stable stage, and reduce the length of hospital stay. The effect of Baduanjin combined with lip-shrinking breathing is more obvious.