Key Takeaway
Systematic review protocol establishing rigorous methodology for evaluating the Buteyko method for asthma, covering RCTs measuring symptom control, medication use, and quality of life.
Summary
This BMJ Open publication outlines a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of the Buteyko breathing method for asthma management. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO and follows PRISMA-P guidelines, ensuring methodological rigor.
The review targets randomized controlled trials comparing the Buteyko method against usual care, sham interventions, or other breathing techniques in people with asthma. Primary outcomes include asthma symptoms, medication use, and quality of life measures. Secondary outcomes cover lung function parameters and adverse events.
The protocol details comprehensive search strategies across multiple databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and others), risk-of-bias assessment using the Cochrane tool, and planned subgroup analyses by asthma severity and intervention duration.
This protocol is important because it signals growing academic interest in rigorously evaluating the Buteyko method. By pre-registering the review methodology, the authors reduce the risk of selective reporting and establish a transparent framework for synthesizing existing evidence on Buteyko for asthma.