SCOPE-Study: Salzburg Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease- Exercise and Oxygen Study

Summary

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is number four of the leading causes of death in the USA and Europe. Moreover, among the top five causes of death, this disease is the only one with increasing mortality rates. Physical training has become an evidence based therapeutic intervention in these patients.

In this study the investigators aim to establish if supplemental oxygen during strength and endurance training improves exercise tolerance. Furthermore, the investigators want to research, if supplemental oxygen has the ability to increase training intensity, which would lead to a greater training effect with respect to respiratory, vascular, inflammatory and anthropometric parameters, as well as quality of life.

SCOPE is a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled, cross-over trial. The investigators aim to enroll 40 patients suffering from COPD aged \>30 years. Inclusion criteria are FEV1 30-60%, and PO2 at rest \>55 mmHg. At baseline, patients will undergo pre-tests including pulmonary, exercise physiological and medical investigations. Prior to the exercise training, an intervention-free control period with usual care is planned. This will be followed by 2 x 6 weeks with physical training (ergometer based endurance training and strength training, using weight lifting machines) with either supplemental oxygen or usual room air (e.g.: first 6 weeks of exercise with oxygen supplementation followed by 6 weeks of room air). After the initial control period and between these two exercise periods, patients will be tested as described in pre-tests, and at the end of the second exercise training period. In addition, the investigators will assess changes in lung function and symptomatic dyspnoea, as well as in quality of life (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire).

Within this study, the investigators hope to improve rehabilitation programs for COPD patients.

Conditions

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Interventions

OTHER

Physical exercise training with supplemental oxygen

Prior to the exercise training, an intervention-free control period with usual care is planned. Intervention group with oxygen supplementation: Endurance training (performed within 70-80% of the heart rate at the anaerobic threshold) as well as strength training will be performed with oxygen supplementation. After 6 weeks of intervention with oxygen supplementation, second intervention period will start with room air instead of oxygen supplementation (as described above).

OTHER

Physical exercise training with "room air supplementation"

Prior to the exercise training, an intervention-free control period with usual care is planned. Intervention group with room air supplementation: Endurance training (performed within 70-80% of the heart rate at the anaerobic threshold) as well as strength training will be performed under normoxic conditions. After 6 weeks of intervention with room air, second intervention period will start with oxygen supplementation instead of room air (as described above).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Paracelsus Medical University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Josef Niebauer, MD, PhD, MBA · Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

30 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-07-31

Primary Completion

2013-07-31

Completion

2013-07-31

Countries

• Austria

Study Locations