Efficacy of abdominal breathing on sleep and quality of life among patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux

Aim: Abdominal breathing recently has demonstrated an important role in managing symptoms of Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease (GERD), improving quality of life, medication adherence, and sleep quality. This study aimed to evaluate
the effectiveness of abdominal breathing on sleep and quality of life in patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux.
Subject and methods: A Quasi-experimental design was used. A purposive sample of 100 patients was selected
from the medical outpatient clinics of Menoufia University Hospital and the outpatient clinics of the National Liver
Institute in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. A Structured interview questionnaire was used to collect data on patients’
sociodemographic characteristics, belly breathing exercise performance and self-reported compliance, GERD symptoms
severity and frequency, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and GERD Health-Related Quality of Life.
Results: The frequency of GERD symptoms decreased from 26.64 pre-intervention to 17.61 and 9.58, respectively, at
two- and four-months post-intervention. Antacid consumption among patients taking it 7 days/week was reduced from
34% pre-intervention to 2% and 0% post-intervention by two and fourmonths, respectively. Good sleepers were 24%
pre-intervention then increased to 62% and 90% post-intervention by 2 and 4months, respectively. Regarding GERD
related quality of life, only 1% was satisfied pre-intervention, which increased to 32% and 72% post-intervention by 2
and 4months, respectively.
Conclusion: Abdominal breathing offers better therapeutic improvements in all patients’ outcomes such as reduced
severity and frequency of GERD symptoms, reduced antacid consumption, increased sleep quality, and increased
satisfaction with life quality. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to incorporate abdominal breathing into treatment
protocols for patients with non-erosive GERD.