Air Pollution and Inhaled Corticosteroids in COPD

Summary

Studies have shown that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have worse symptoms after breathing polluted air. People with COPD also often need to go to the hospital if they get a virus or other bug. One of the main drugs taken for COPD treatment (inhaled corticosteroid) may change COPD patients' lungs in ways that make it harder to deal with bugs, especially if they breathe in polluted air. If so, this could cause more frequent hospital visits. On the other hand, the same drug (inhaled corticosteroid) helps some people control symptoms, and may help them avoid hospital visits. The APEL investigators are conducting this study (APIC) to understand if this drug (inhaled corticosteroid), in combination with polluted air, will change the lungs of those with COPD in ways that make it more likely to catch bugs or have other problems.

Conditions

• COPD

Interventions

DRUG

LABA+LAMA

1 dose per day (AM)

DRUG

LABA+LAMA+ICS

1 dose per day (AM)

OTHER

Filtered Air

Exposure to HEPA filtered air, as a control

OTHER

Diesel Exhaust

Diesel exhaust standardized to 300µg/m³ of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Calgary

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Ottawa

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Manitoba

  collaborator OTHER

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  collaborator OTHER

• University of British Columbia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Christopher Carlsten, MD, MPH · University of British Columbia

• Neeloffer Mookherjee, PhD · University of Manitoba

• Shawn Aaron, MD, FRCPC · University of Ottawa/Université d'Ottawa

• Janice Leung, MD, FRCPC · University of British Columbia

• Christopher F Rider, PhD · University of British Columbia

• Neil Alexis, PhD · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-04-01

Primary Completion

2026-12-31

Completion

2028-12-31