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Muscle Stimulation in Advanced Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Interventions
Device: Active NMES
Device: Sham NMES
Other: Home exercise programme
Other: Breathlessness advice
Registration Number
NCT03499275
Lead Sponsor
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
Brief Summary

The aims of this study are to determine whether neuromuscular stimulation (NMES) of the quadriceps muscle is acceptable to patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and staff and whether it can impact clinical and healthcare resource usage outcomes.

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Detailed Description

Patients with IPF who consent to participate in the study will be allocated by chance to use 'active' or 'sham/placebo' NMES for six weeks. Patients will also complete a home exercise programme and receive advice on how to manage breathlessness. Clinical outcomes and trial flow after this six week programme and six weeks after patients have stopped using NMES will be assessed. After this point, healthcare resource use during the study period will be evaluated and interviews involving participants, their carers, and staff about their experiences of the study and using or delivering NMES will be conducted.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
23
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of IPF according to international standards.
  • Severe respiratory disability / breathlessness (Medical Research Council dyspnoea score ≥3).
  • Able to provide written informed consent.
  • Declined or failed to complete a supervised centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme
  • Quadriceps maximum voluntary contraction <80% predicted.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Cardiac pacemaker.
  • Co-existing neurological condition.
  • Change in medication or exacerbation requiring admission in preceding four weeks.
  • Current regular exerciser (structured supervised training ≥3 times per week within last month).
  • People who have completed PR in the previous six months.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Sham NMESBreathlessness adviceSham neuromuscular electrical stimulation plus home exercise programme and advice on breathlessness management
Active NMESActive NMESNeuromuscular electrical stimulation plus home exercise programme and advice on breathlessness management
Active NMESBreathlessness adviceNeuromuscular electrical stimulation plus home exercise programme and advice on breathlessness management
Sham NMESHome exercise programmeSham neuromuscular electrical stimulation plus home exercise programme and advice on breathlessness management
Active NMESHome exercise programmeNeuromuscular electrical stimulation plus home exercise programme and advice on breathlessness management
Sham NMESSham NMESSham neuromuscular electrical stimulation plus home exercise programme and advice on breathlessness management
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Six minute walk testSix weeks

Exercise capacity

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quadriceps maximum voluntary contractionSix weeks and twelve weeks

Muscle strength

King's Brief Interstitial Lung Disease questionnaireSix weeks and twelve weeks

Measure of health-related quality of life that includes three domains (psychological, breathlessness and activities, chest symptoms) and a total score. The score range for each domain and the total score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life.

Rectus-femoris cross-sectional areaSix weeks and twelve weeks

Muscle size

Six minute walk testTwelve weeks

Exercise capacity

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Harefield, Middlesex, United Kingdom

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