Comparative Study Of Pulmonary Function Improvement In COPD: HFCWO Vs Manual Chest Physiotherapy

Abstract

Background:Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality with persistent airflow limitation, heightened mucus production, and impaired mucociliary clearance. Airway clearance techniques (ACTs) such as High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) and Manual Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) are an integral part of pulmonary rehabilitation, but evidence of comparative effectiveness in improving pulmonary function is limited.

Objective:The aim of this study was to compare the impact of HFCWO and manual CPT on pulmonary function parameters among patients with COPD.

Methods:Comparative analysis was conducted with independent samples t-tests and effect size estimation. Pulmonary function tests like FEV₁, FVC, and PEFR were assessed between the patients who received either HFCWO or CPT. For statistical significance, effect sizes (Cohen's d, Hedges' correction, Glass's delta) were estimated. Posterior distribution characterizations were also performed to compare intervals of credible mean differences.

Results:The findings revealed no statistically significant differences between HFCWO and manual CPT groups on pulmonary function outcomes (p > 0.05 for all tests). Small effect sizes, along with confidence intervals that included zero, suggested minimal differences between interventions. Posterior distributions further suggested small differences in means with extremely broad credible intervals.

Conclusion: HFCWO and manual CPT were equally effective in improving pulmonary function in COPD patients. Choice of airway clearance strategy should be patient-specific, considering patient preference, availability of resources, and location of care. Further large-scale, long-term studies are required to investigate clinical outcomes other than pulmonary function, including frequency of exacerbations, rates of hospitalization, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness.