Vitabreath Pilot in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: Dyspnea is the most common symptom limiting the ability of COPD patients to perform activities of daily living. Although there has been research involving the benefit of providing Non Invasive Ventilation (NIV) during exercise to increase tolerance overall, there is little research specifically looking at shortening dyspnea recovery times associated with exercise. We hypothesize that providing intermittent non-invasive positive pressure therapy (a form of NIV or PAP) with a handheld device to COPD patients immediately after exertion can relieve their dyspnea, and consequently allow them to be more active. In this study, we are comparing the distance walked as measured by a modified 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) of 20 COPD patients using VitaBreath (NIV) device versus Pursed Lip Breathing.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Age ≥ 40
Ability to provide consent
COPD diagnosis
Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) <55 and ≥ 25 percent of predicted value
Perceived Shortness of Breath via the Modified Medical Research Counsel Dyspnea questionnaire (rating of 2 or greater) (Appendix B)
Able to follow directions
Able to tolerate mild physical activity
Pursed Lip Breathing as standard of care
No evidence of bullous lung disease (with any bullae greater than 3cm in diameter) as confirmed by a CT scan within the past one year.

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects who are acutely ill, medically complicated or who are medically unstable as determined by the investigator.
Suffering from COPD exacerbation at time of enrollment or 60 days prior
Subjects who are not currently prescribed oxygen and manifest oxygen desaturation below 88% on the screening 6MWT
Subjects with heart disease or neuromuscular disease.
Subjects who are not prescribed short-acting bronchodilator medication
Patients who have experienced recent barotrauma or pneumothorax
Unstable angina or Myocardial Infarction during past month
Uncontrolled Hypertension (systolic blood pressure of >180mmHg (millimeters of Mercury) and a diastolic >100mmHg)
Heart Rate >120 at rest
Subjects who have trouble coordinating their breathing with the device during the device training, or cannot tolerate the device mouthpiece resulting in leaks from the nasal cavity
Women of child-bearing potential (WOCP) who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning pregnancy during the course of the study. (WOCP must have a negative pregnancy test at every visit)

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Vitabreath Device	Vitabreath Device	The Philips Respironics investigational device VitaBreath is a handheld, battery powered, intermittent positive airway pressure device that is non-invasive, and provides positive airway pressure (PAP) of 18 cm water (H2O) during inspiration and 8 cm H2O on expiration, thus creating 10 cm H2O of pressure support. Pressure support is defined as the difference between inhalation pressure and exhalation pressure. The study device is intended as an adjunct therapy to relieve shortness of breath in COPD patients who experience exertion-related dyspnea to allow them to be more active. The air is delivered to the patient via a mouthpiece on the device.
Pursed Lip Breathing	Pursed Lip Breathing	Pursed lip breathing is a commonly used technique by COPD patients. That involves exhaling through tightly pressed lips and inhaling through the nose with the mouth closed.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Average Distance During Modified 6 Minute Walk Test	15 minutes	Compare the average distance walked during modified 6 minute walk test (M 6MWT) by COPD participants using Pursed Lip Breathing (PLB) versus an intermittent positive airway pressure handheld device, VitaBreath.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method

Locations (2): Pullmonary Rehabilition Associates
🇺🇸
Youngstown, Ohio, United States
Pittsburgh Pulmonary Associates
🇺🇸
Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, United States