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Early Signs of Altitude Illness in Patients With COPD

Completed
Conditions
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: Structured self-monitoring during an altitude ascent and stay at high altitude
Registration Number
NCT03957759
Lead Sponsor
University of Zurich
Brief Summary

This study evaluates whether structured self-monitoring (SSM) by a symptom checklist in combination with a pulse oximeter worn at the wrist allows lowlanders with COPD to accurately identify whether or not they will experience an altitude-related illness during altitude travel.

Detailed Description

This study evaluates whether structured self-monitoring (SSM) by a symptom checklist in combination with a pulse oximeter worn at the wrist allows lowlanders with COPD to accurately identify whether or not they will experience an altitude-related illness during altitude travel. After baseline evaluation at 760 m, patients will travel by bus within 3-5 h to the Tuja Ashu high altitude clinic at 3'100 m and stay there for 2 days. During this period, participants will perform SSM. They are instructed to report to study personnel if they fulfill predefined criteria for impeding altitude-related illness.

A planned interim analysis will be performed after the first year of the study or after completion of study by 80 participants, whichever comes first to allow any necessary adaptations of the sample size or terminate the study early for futility or high accuracy of the index test.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
153
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
COPD patientsStructured self-monitoring during an altitude ascent and stay at high altitude-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Diagnostic accurarcy measures of structured self-monitoringDay 1 to 3 at 3100m

Diagnostic performance includes sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and receiver operator curve area under the the curve. The diagnostic performance will be compared statistically using c-statistics against the reference test. Reference test will be the occurence of altitude-related illness defined as the following:

* AMS defined by the Lake Louise questionnaire score or with AMSc score

* severe hypoxemia (SpO2 \<80% at rest \>30 min; or SpO2 \<75% at rest \>15 min;

* intercurrent illness that cannot be relieved by simple measures such as paracetamol 3x500 mg/day, inhalation of bronchodilators.

* dyspnea or discomfort at rest requiring treatment with oxygen

* chest pain or ECG signs of cardiac ischemia

* severe hypertension: systolic blood pressure \>200 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \>110 mmHg

* new onset neurologic impairment

* Any condition that requires study withdrawal according to the decision of the independent physician

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in ST-Segment of the ECG during ergometryDay 1 at 760 and 3100m

Altitude-induced change in the ST-Segment of the ECG assessed during a maximal ergometry test performed at 760 and 3100m

Spirometric measurement of forced expiratory volume in one secondDay 2 at 760 and 3100m

Altitude-induced change in the forced expiratory volume in one between 760 and 3100m

Six-minute walk distance in metersDay 2 at 760 and 3100m

Altitude-induced change in the six-minute walk distance assessed by the six-minute walk test performed at 760 and 3100m

Arterial partial pressure of oxygenDay 2 at 760 and 3100m

Altitude-induced change in arterial partial pressure of oxygen assessed by arterial blood gas puncture at 760 and 3100m

Altitude-related illness, incidenceDay 1 to 3 at 3100m

Incidence of ARI during the stay at 3100 m.

ARI is defined as the following:

* AMS defined by the Lake Louise questionnaire score or with AMSc score

* severe hypoxemia (SpO2 \<80% at rest \>30 min; or SpO2 \<75% at rest \>15 min;

* intercurrent illness that cannot be relieved by simple measures such as paracetamol 3x500 mg/day, inhalation of bronchodilators.

* dyspnea or discomfort at rest requiring treatment with oxygen

* chest pain or ECG signs of cardiac ischemia

* severe hypertension: systolic blood pressure \>200 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \>110 mmHg

* new onset neurologic impairment

* Any condition that requires study withdrawal according to the decision of the independent physician

Acute mountain sickness severity assessed by the Lake Louise scoreDay 1 to 3 at 3100m

The severity of acute mountain sickness will be assessed by the Lake Louise questionnaire. The severity will be calculated when the presence of headache and at least one of the following symptoms is present: gastrointestinal upset, fatigue or weakness and dizziness or lightheadedness. Each of the four questions is asked with the corresponding 0 to 3 rating of the response (0 = Not present, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe). The sum of the responses on these questions is then calculated, resulting in the AMS severity.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine

🇰🇬

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

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