Trial reportRespirology (Carlton, Vic.)2026
Active Cycle of Breathing Technique Versus Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy Versus Exercise With Huffing During an Exacerbation of Bronchiectasis: A Randomised, Controlled Trial.
Trial report in Respirology (Carlton, Vic.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Active Cycle of Breathing Technique Versus Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy Versus Exercise With Huffing During an Exacerbation of Bronchiectasis: A Randomised, Controlled Trial.Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) · 2026Trial
- Walking With Huffing: A Practical New Option for Airway Clearance During Bronchiectasis Exacerbations?Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectiveThe relative effectiveness of airway clearance techniques (ACTs) during an exacerbation of bronchiectasis is unknown. This study aimed to compare the effects of three ACTs on sputum expectoration, health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL), and exacerbation rates in adults hospitalised with an exacerbation of bronchiectasis.
methodsA randomised controlled trial of active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT), oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) therapy and walking with huffing. Sputum wet weight was collected during ACT sessions, 1-h post-session and the following 23 h on day 2 and day of discharge. HRQOL was assessed using the Quality of Life-Bronchiectasis (QoL-B) questionnaire and Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) on day 2 and day of discharge. Time to first exacerbation was explored for 6 months following discharge.
resultsFifty-five participants were recruited. ACBT was associated with smaller sputum wet weight 1-h post session on day of discharge compared to walking with huffing (mean difference -2.58 g); no other significant differences between groups in sputum weights were observed. ACBT and walking with huffing significantly improved selected measures of HRQOL (LCQ total score and multiple QOL-B domains) at hospital discharge while OPEP therapy produced minimal changes. ACBT (158 days, 95% CI 139-177) resulted in a longer time to first exacerbation than walking with huffing (118 days, 95% CI 83-154) and OPEP therapy (89 days, 95% CI 69-111) but this finding should be interpreted with caution due to loss to follow-up.
conclusionWalking with huffing and ACBT gave similar improvements in sputum expectoration and HRQOL during hospitalisation in adults with an exacerbation of bronchiectasis.
trial registrationThe study was registered on the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000428864) on 16-04-2021.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.