Kyrgyz Asthma Rehabilitation at High Altitude

University of Zurich50 enrolled

Overview

prospective controlled interventional trial evaluating the efficacy of a 3-weeks asthma rehabilitation program at high altitude (3200m) and low altitude (760m) on lung function and asthma control.

Low altitude baseline measurements will be performed in Bishkek. Participants will then either be assigned to a rehabilitation program in Bishkek (760m) or in Tuja Ashu (3200m). The rehabilitation programs in high or low altitude will be identically performed and will comprise * asthma education and awareness * instruction on inhaled therapies * smoking cessation counseling * respiratory and skeletal muscle training in groups * guided walks / cycle ergometer training * questionnaires on asthma control, quality of life * spirometry and peak flow measurements * echocardiography Measurement on study subjects will be performed at baseline (Bishkek), during the rehabilitation program, after completion of the rehabilitation program and during a follow-up at week 15.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Effect of High Altitude

Interventions

altitude rehabilitation programOTHER

altitude exposure

rehabilitation programOTHER

Rehabilitation at low altitude

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 80 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosed with atopic or non-atopic Asthma for at least 3 months * partly controlled on regular or on demand inhaled therapy according to guidelines. * asthma variability in peak expiratory flow \> 10%/day and/or a reversible airflow obstruction in spirometry * History of asthma consisting of variable symptoms (cough, dyspnea, wheezing). Exclusion Criteria: * Unstable and severely uncontrolled asthma needing systemic corticosteroids. * Need of continuous oral steroids for their asthma control * Heavy smokers (\>20 cigarettes per day) * Severe concomitant diseases preventing patients to adhere to the protocol and/or altitude exposure (severe metabolic, kidney- or liver disease, heart failure (ejection fracture \<50%). * Chronic lung diseases with a persistent FVC \< 60% an/or arterial oxygen saturation \<92%). * Severe mental- or musculoskeletal disorders * Pregnant or breast feeding women * Patient which are unable to comply with the study procedure.

Locations (1)

Respiratory Clinic, University Hospital of Zurich

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

daily peak-flow variability

Time frame: assessed at baseline, at run time of the rehabilitation program and 15 weeks after baseline measurements

change in asthma control questionnaire score

Time frame: baseline to week 3 and 15

Secondary Outcomes

forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)

Time frame: baseline to week 3 and 15

average peak flow over 2 days

Time frame: baseline to week 3 and 15

spirometric values (Forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC)