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Acupuncture Combined With Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Are There Additional Benefits?

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Interventions
Other: Acupuncture
Other: Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Registration Number
NCT01112943
Lead Sponsor
Beaumont Hospital
Brief Summary

The hypothesis of this study was that acupuncture in conjunction with standard care of pulmonary rehabilitation improves outcome measures compared to pulmonary rehabilitation alone.

Detailed Description

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is recognized as a pivotal component in International Guidelines for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In patients with COPD, clinical research using acupuncture has reported a significant reduction in the use of medications, decrease breathlessness and increased functional capacity. To our knowledge, this is the first time that these two treatments were combined to compare functional, physiological, biological and emotional/QOL outcomes in this cohort of patients.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
44
Inclusion Criteria
  • A diagnosis of COPD based on the GOLD staging of the disease
  • Medical Research Council Score of 3 or Above
  • Ability of mobilize independently
  • Motivated to exercise independently
Exclusion Criteria
  • No evidence of COPD on spirometry
  • Acute exacerbation within 4-6 weeks
  • Evidence of Ischemic Heat Disease/acute changes on ECG
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Insulin dependent diabetic
  • Inability to exercise independently or musculoskeletal/neurological conditions which would prevent completion of the course
  • Fear of needles
  • Lung Cancer
  • Previous attendance at pulmonary rehabilitation

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
AcupunctureAcupunctureAcupuncture on predefined points once a week for 20 minutes over the seven week pulmonary rehabilitation course
AcupuncturePulmonary RehabilitationAcupuncture on predefined points once a week for 20 minutes over the seven week pulmonary rehabilitation course
Pulmonary RehabilitationPulmonary RehabilitationA seven week exercise and educational class run twice a week using international guidelines.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quality of life score, St George's Quality of Life scoreInitial, 8 weeks and 3 months

A validated assessment of quality of life for patients with COPD. A comparison will be made between those who underwent no rehabilitation the control group and the group who underwent rehabilitation.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
6 minute walk testInitial, 8 weeks and three months

Prognostic indicator that includes a measure of exercise capacity.

'Free Living' Activity LevelsInitial, 8weeks and 3 months

SenseWare Activity Monitors which measure total energy expenditure.

St. George's Respiratory QuestionnaireInitial 8 weeks and 3mths

A valid and reliable disease specific questionnaire

Incremental Shuttle Walk TestInitial, 8 weeks and 3 months

This is an incremental, submaximal field exercise test that is sensitive to pulmonary rehabilitation intervention.

Borg ScoreInitial, 8 weeks and 3 months

Breathlessness Score

EuroQol 5DInitial, 8 weeks and 3 months

A generic quality of life questionnaire with a Utility score.

Lung functionInitial, 8 weeks and 3 months

Spirometry and PiMax

Inflammatory MarkersInitial, 8 weeks and 3 monts

IL6, IL8, TNF alpha and CRP

Modified Medical Research Council ScoreInitial, 8 weeks and 3 monts

Subjective activity score based on breathlessness

BODE IndexInitial, 8 weeks and 3 months

Prognostic indicator for survival

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Beaumont Hospital

🇮🇪

Beaumont, Dublin, Ireland

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