Ambulatory Oxygen Therapy for Individuals With Mild-to-moderate Interstitial Lung Disease

Overview

The investigators plan to conduct a study to find out if giving portable oxygen therapy (during physical activity) to patients with interstitial lung disease will improve quality of life, exercise tolerance, shortness of breath, and blood vessel function. Oxygen will be provided for a period of 8 weeks. Additionally, the investigators plan to investigate if it is helpful to deliver individualized support when providing oxygen therapy, through check-in phone calls with a respiratory therapist and by providing additional educational material.

Brief Summary: The investigators plan to conduct a study to find out if giving portable oxygen therapy (during physical activity) to patients with interstitial lung disease will improve quality of life, exercise tolerance, shortness of breath, and blood vessel function. Oxygen will be provided for a period of 8 weeks. Additionally, the investigators plan to investigate if it is helpful to deliver individualized support when providing oxygen therapy, through check-in phone calls with a respiratory therapist and by providing additional educational material. Detailed Description: BACKGROUND Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is comprised of a group of pulmonary diseases that are characterized by inflammation and/or lung parenchymal fibrosis. Individuals with ILD may be normoxic at rest; however, underlying impairments in gas exchange can contribute to a reduction in oxygen saturation (SpO2) during exertion. Hypoxemia can cause inflammation and cardiovascular dysfunction, which could lead to cardiac events. A recent study found that 78% of ILD patients had cardiovascular comorbidity, which was predictive of death within this ILD cohort. Oxygen therapy is used in patients with advanced lung disease with resting hypoxemia; however, there is limited evidence regarding its clinical efficacy. Furthermore, there is little support to describe the benefit of ambulatory oxygen therapy in individuals with lung disease who are normoxemic at rest but become hypoxemic with exertion. Accordingly, thresholds for the prescription of oxygen therapy vary between (and within) health districts and geographical regions, and individuals who might benefit from supplemental oxygen typically do not qualify for funding of oxygen therapy under unclear guidelines. Furthermore, data from studies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often extrapolated for use in guiding oxygen therapy in patients with ILD, which is likely inappropriate considering recent research demonstrated that individuals with fibrotic ILD experience greater hypoxemia than those with COPD during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Oxygen therapy may be beneficial in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and pulmonary artery pressure, all of which are elevated in ILD. Furthermore, a reduction in dyspnea during exercise with exertional oxygen therapy might increase daily physical activity, exercise tolerance, and reduce overall sedentary time, which would have a positive effect on vascular function. These postulated outcomes, however, are confounded by various practical, psychological, and social challenges associated with use of an oxygen concentrator, as well as challenges with proper titration of oxygen levels (accurately targeting appropriate SpO2) in relation to exertional intensity. Paradoxically, if the flow of oxygen is too high, activation of inflammatory and oxidative pathways may inhibit the benefits related to the alleviation of hypoxemia. Thus, integration of patient-specific disease support tools is essential when initiating oxygen therapy to ensure appropriate oxygenation during exertion. OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility of oxygen therapy, education, and support for individuals with fibrotic interstitial lung disease and exertional hypoxemia. As a secondary objective, the effects of exertional oxygen therapy and support on physical activity, vascular function, and health-related quality of life in individuals with fibrotic interstitial lung disease will be investigated. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ENDPOINTS Health related quality of life as assessed by the EQ-5D-5L and the K-BILD Exercise tolerance, assessed by 6MWD while breathing room air Daily physical activity and sedentary time as assessed by a remote monitor. Dyspnea, as measured by the Dyspnea 12 questionnaire Cough using the visual analog scale (VAS) and cough score (measured by Leicester Cough Questionnaire; LCQ) Vascular function, measured by flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) measured by cardiac echocardiography Cardiac systolic and diastolic function assessed by cardiac echocardiography Systemic inflammation STUDY DESIGN Single-blind (assessment team) open-label randomized control TRIAL TREATMENT Participants will be randomized into one of three arms: Control: (Arm 1) 8 Weeks of usual care (n=20) Treatment: (Arm 2) 8 Weeks of supplemental oxygen(n=20) (Arm 3) 8 Weeks of supplemental oxygen plus educational materials and scheduled support (n=20) All: 2-week baseline prior to intervention and 2-week washout post-intervention to document carry-over effect of intervention. DURATION Seven sessions will be completed over a 13-week period. TIMELINE Visit 1) Participant enrollment, medical history, standard pulmonary function test (PFT) and 6-minute walk test (6MWT); followed by 1-week for collection of baseline physical activity and SpO2. During this visit, participants will be provided a wrist-worn activity monitor and a finger-worn pulse oximeter. This visit will take approximately 3 hours. Visit 2) Doppler measurements of systemic vascular function (flow mediated dilation) will be measured at rest while breathing room air. A small sample of venous blood will be taken to analyze inflammatory levels and reactive oxygen species. Participants will fill out questionnaires relating to health-related quality of life, dyspnea, and cough. Finally, participants will perform tests of lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) under three different conditions: seated, supine, and during exercise at 40W on a cycle ergometer. Visit 3) One to three days after Visit 2, participants will return for the second day of pre-intervention baseline testing. An echocardiographic exam will be completed to determine pulmonary artery systolic pressure as well as systolic and diastolic function in the left and right ventricles of the heart. To enhance the Doppler signal during the cardiac ultrasound, agitated saline contrast will be used. Two 6-minute walk tests will then be completed, separated by half an hour. This visit will take approximately 2 hours. Following this day, participants will be randomized into one of three arms for an 8-week intervention. Eight-week intervention, randomized into one of: * No oxygen * Exertional oxygen * Exertional oxygen + additional support Visit 4) Repeat Day 2 protocol. Visit 5) Repeat Day 3 protocol. Two-week washout period Visit 6) Repeat Day 2 protocol. Visit 7) Repeat Day 3 protocol. The total duration of time spent for each participant will be approximately 12 hours.