COPD Exacerbations and Environmental Exposure Modelling
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterising Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations using environmental exposure modelling.
IRAS ID
166785
Contact name
Jennifer Quint
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the sixth most common cause of death in the UK (~30,000 deaths per year) and costs the NHS £500m yearly. COPD patients are at risk of acute episodes of deterioration – ‘exacerbations’. Changes in temperature, humidity and air pollution are related to exacerbations, but these are not well characterised due, in part, to insufficiently detailed individual environmental exposure estimates in studies. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the environment and seasonal changes in COPD exacerbations in central London using portable pollution monitors and symptom diaries.
160 mobile COPD patients will be recruited in 3 separate cohorts and provided with a personal air quality monitor (PAQM) to wear every day for 6 months. They will be asked to complete a daily diary card of symptoms and to measure their ‘peak expiratory flow’ each day. Participants will be invited to a clinic at the beginning, 6-week point, and at the end of the 6 month monitoring period for research staff to meet the participants, provide equipment, collect data from the PAQM and diary cards, and to answer any queries relating to the study. If participants wish to they will also be contacted by telephone during the study to monitor their progress. Data from the monitors will be analysed and compared with information from the diary cards of symptoms and linked with GP records.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/2216
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion