Sensitivity to cough and breathlessness in COPD exacerbations
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Changes in cough reflex sensitivity and perception of breathlessness during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
IRAS ID
213902
Contact name
Surinder Birring
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease. Cough and breathlessness are increased during acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). There is evidence to support the concept that airway sensory nerves are sensitised by inflammation. Activity of these sensory nerves can cause symptoms of cough and breathlessness. This study will investigate any potential effect inflammation in AECOPD may have on the relationship between symptoms of cough and breathlessness and their physiological drivers of cough reflex sensitivity and neural respiratory drive respectively. It will also investigate any potential relationship between airway sensitisation and frequency of AECOPDs. This could lead to a better understanding and potentially management of the perception of symptoms.
This will be a prospective longitudinal case-control study and will recruit 30 participants who will be admitted to King's College Hospital with AECOPD. 10 age-matched participants will be recruited from the out-patient department.
Participants will be requested to visit the research team on 2 occasions at 6 weeks apart. Demographic and anthropometric data will be collected. At each of the 2 visits, cough will be measured subjectively with validated questionnaires and objectively with the Leciester Cough Monitor. Furthermore, the cough will be assessed physiologically and objectively through the cough reflex sensitivity as measured by the capsaicin challenge test. Meanwhile, breathlessness and its impact will be measured subjectively with the mBorg scale and modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale. Breathlessness will be assessed objectively by assessing the neural respiratory drive, as measured by non-invasive parasternal electromyography, prior to and following a standardised walking regime. These subjective and objective measures will enable comparison of the slope of the relationships between the two categories of measures. Participants will be contacted at 3, 6 and 12 months following participation to investigate the frequency of AECOPDs and the management required.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
16/SS/0189
Date of REC Opinion
26 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion