Use of ambulatory oxygen in COPD

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Can muscle dysfunction in COPD be altered by oxygenation in patients with intermittent hypoxia on exertion?

• IRAS ID

  86390

• Contact name

  Wood Alice

• Eudract number

  2011-003595-36

• ISRCTN Number

  na

• Research summary

  Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may develop low oxygen levels, because of damage to their lungs. Long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is given for at least 15 hours per day, and has established indications and benefits in COPD. However, the indications for and benefits from ambulatory oxygen supplementation (oxygen just when walking or exercising) are less well understood, in part due to heterogeneity of previous study designs, and lack of long term follow up. We propose a pilot study of supplementary ambulatory oxygen in COPD, structured in the same manner as one of the larger studies to date in this condition, but with some key differences. Firstly, our study design will allow us to ascertain mechanisms of disease by measuring their degree of systemic inflammation pre and post oxygen supplementation, and measuring changes in gene expression in muscles by means of microarray profiling. Secondly, our study will utilise follow up of clinical parameters including home activity monitoring to ascertain medium/long term benefits of oxygen supplementation in a real life setting.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  11/WM/0337

• Date of REC Opinion

  29 Nov 2011

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion