A new study has shown that specialized group singing programs can improve both the symptoms and quality of life for people living with chronic lung disease.
The findings, presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, suggest that singing could become an important, non-drug treatment option for conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Professor Natasha Smallwood from Monash University in Melbourne, who led the study, explained why this work is so important.
“Chronic breathlessness is a common and highly distressing symptom for people with COPD and ILD.
Yet there are very few safe and effective treatment options for managing it,” she said. Group singing has been used in the past to support people with neurological and mental health conditions, and has shown potential for respiratory illnesses.
Until now, however, there has been limited high-quality evidence to prove its benefits for people with ILD in particular.
ILD is an umbrella term for many conditions that cause scarring and inflammation of the lungs, affecting hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
COPD is an even more widespread disease, impacting an estimated 400 million people globally. Both conditions lead to progressive breathlessness that can be difficult to treat.
To test whether singing could help, the SINFONIA study recruited 101 patients, 64 with COPD and 37 with ILD. Half of the participants joined an online group singing program, while the other half continued with their usual medical care, such as medications, inhalers, and vaccines.
The singing program ran for 12 weeks, with weekly 90-minute sessions delivered via Zoom.
Each session included warmups, breathing exercises, singing popular songs such as “Let It Be” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and social check-ins to build a sense of connection.
To make participation easier, patients were provided with iPads and free data plans if needed.
After 12 weeks, patients who took part in the singing program reported a much better quality of life than those in the usual care group.
Using a standard questionnaire that measures health across areas like physical limitations, pain, social functioning, and emotional wellbeing, researchers found that the singing group scored an average of 7.4 points higher.
The biggest improvements were seen in participants who attended at least two-thirds of the sessions, particularly in areas measuring physical health and emotional challenges.
Interestingly, the benefits were strongest among women, people with anxiety or depression, and those who had never completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program before.
Professor Smallwood noted that the exact reasons why singing helps remain unclear. It may be due to improved breathing control, the uplifting effects of music, or the sense of belonging and support created by the group.
Dr. Apostolos Bossios from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, who was not involved in the research, said the findings are highly significant. “People with COPD and ILD live with long-term breathing difficulties that restrict their daily lives.
These conditions cannot be cured, so we need better ways to help people live happier, healthier lives. This study provides strong evidence that group singing can play an important role.”
The SINFONIA trial is the first of its kind worldwide and adds to growing evidence that non-medication-based therapies can make a real difference for people with chronic respiratory diseases.
By incorporating singing programs into healthcare services, doctors and therapists may soon be able to offer patients a safe, enjoyable, and effective way to breathe more easily and live more fully.
