This study evaluates the influence of home air purification on the lung health of adults with eosinophilic COPD. Half of the participants will receive real air purifiers (HEPA filters) and half will receive sham air purifiers.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third most common cause of death in the United States, and is exacerbated by exposure to air pollution. Knowledge about whether air purification affects the health of those with eosinophilic COPD (approximately 40% of all COPD patients seeking care), who generally have more active airway inflammation. If found to be beneficial, home air purification may offer a non-pharmacologic intervention for a large proportion of people with this common and serious disease. This study will evaluate whether home air purification affects lung function, respiratory symptoms, nasal biomarkers (inflammatory proteins and metals) among people with eosinophilic COPD. Participants will be randomized to receive real or sham air purifier in the bedroom and living room for 12 months. The intervention group will receive two high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) air purifiers, while the control group will receive two sham air purifiers that look and sound the same as real HEPA air purifiers.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
178
The intervention is the placement of active HEPA air purifiers in the bedroom and living room of the true air purifier arm. These air purifiers have been shown to reduce levels of particles in the home.
The intervention is the placement of sham HEPA air purifiers in the bedroom and living room. These purifiers look identical to real HEPA air purifiers, but do not filter the air.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)
FEV1 is the volume of air exhaled in the first second of a forced exhalation maneuver. Lower volumes indicate worse lung function.
Time frame: Baseline [3 months before intervention and day of intervention] and post intervention [7 days, 6 months and 12 months]
Change in health status (also called health-related quality of life) by St. George Respiratory Questionnaire
The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire is scored from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate more health impairment.
Time frame: Baseline [3 months before intervention and day of intervention] and post-intervention [6 months and 12 months]
Change in respiratory symptoms
The Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum Scale measures the severity of respiratory symptoms in COPD. The total score ranges from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.
Time frame: Monthly for 3 months preintervention and 12 months post-intervention
Change in functional capacity by 6 minute walk test
Baseline and 12 months post-intervention
Time frame: The 6 minute walk test measures distance (in meters) walked in a time of 6 minutes
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