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Changes in Microcirculation and Functional Status During Exacerbation of COPD

Conditions
COPD Exacerbation
Physical Activity
Retinal Vascular
Registration Number
NCT03250000
Lead Sponsor
Hasselt University
Brief Summary

This study investigates the influence of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on retinal microcirculation, on functional status and also investigates the prognostic value of retinal vessel caliber assessment in terms of hospitalization and mortality during 2 years of follow-up.

Detailed Description

Recent findings suggest that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk for myocardial infarction and stroke during periods of acute exacerbation. These findings might be related to acute endothelial changes associated to increased systemic inflammation. Changes in the microcirculation can be explored noninvasively by studying retinal blood vessels that are visualized in fundus images. The retinal blood vessels have anatomical and physiological features that are comparable with the coronary circulation.

Patients with COPD experience quadriceps muscle weakness, which worsens during hospitalization by \~1% per day. This is the result of physical inactivity, in combination with increased oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. Physical inactivity is induced by the hospital environment, but is also related to symptoms of dyspnea caused by increased work of breathing and oxygen desaturation.

Muscle weakness and physical inactivity are associated to poor functional status and recurrent hospital admissions, independent of pulmonary impairment, which makes those patients with frequent exacerbations prone to enter a vicious cycle.

Simple functional screening tests during hospital stay might enable us to quantify the impact of a hospitalization on functional status and to identify patients at risk for repeated exacerbations.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • Stable COPD (post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume / forced vital capacity < 0.7), no exacerbations in the previous weeks. COPD patients with diagnosis of acute exacerbation, based on the GOLD criteria.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Inability to walk without support from others

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in Functional status testsStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

Short physical performance battery (SPPB), which consists of a four meter gait test, a five-repetition sit-to-stand test and a balance test will be done. All the testes ranged from 0 to 4 and the sum of the three components comprised the final SPPB score, with a possible range from 0 to 12.

Changes in Retinal microcirculationStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

Fundus of the right eye will be photographed using a retinal camera. The vessel diameters had geometric patterns will be measure.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in Daily physical activityStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

Activity level will be assess by an accelerometer, the patient will be worn for 7 days.

Impact of the dyspneaStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

The modified medical research council scale will be applied

Impact of the depressionStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

The patient health questionnaire will be applied

Functional exercise toleranceStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

Six minute walk test will be done

Body compositionStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

Bio-electrical impedance analysis will be used to estimate fat-free body mass based on the assessment of total body water. Body mass index and waist circumference will provide general information about body composition.

Continuous assessment of heart rateCOPD exacerbated: Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

A portable pulse oximeter will be worn to asses heart rate for 24 hours in patients with an exacerbation.

Muscle FunctionStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

Handgrip and Isometric-eccentric quadriceps strength test will be done

Impact of the diseaseStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

The COPD assessment test will be applied

Impact of the fatigueStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

The checklist individual strength- fatigue sub-scale will be applied

Continuous assessment of oxygen saturationCOPD exacerbated: Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

A portable pulse oximeter will be worn to asses transcutaneous oxygen saturation for 24 hours in patients with an exacerbation.

Cardiovascular parametersStable: Outpatient clinic/ COPD exacerbated: Day 2-3 in hospital; Day 5-7 in hospital; 4 weeks after discharge

Resting ankle and brachial blood pressure will be measured and the ankle brachial pressure index will be calculated by the ratio of ankle to ipsilateral brachial systolic blood pressure

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg

🇧🇪

Genk, Belgium

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