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Asymmetric High-Flow Nasal Cannula During Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD

NCT07497230 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2026-04-01

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This randomized pilot trial evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effects of using asymmetric high-flow nasal cannula (A-HFNC) during exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thirty patients were randomly assigned to conventional PR or PR supplemented with A-HFNC during aerobic training, completing 12 supervised sessions. The study assessed whether A-HFNC could be safely and acceptably incorporated into PR, and whether it enabled higher training intensity and improved exercise performance. Results showed that the intervention was feasible and safe, with 83% adherence in both groups and no adverse events. Patients in the A-HFNC group trained at significantly higher treadmill inclination and showed a clinically meaningful trend toward greater improvement in maximal exercise tolerance. These findings support the design of a larger definitive trial.

Conditions

  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD)
  • Dyspnea
  • Exercise Tolerance
  • Rehabilitation

Interventions

DEVICE

Asymmetric High-Flow Nasal Cannula (A-HFNC)

Experimental: Asymmetric high-flow nasal cannula (A-HFNC) applied during aerobic training sessions of a 12-session supervised pulmonary rehabilitation program. Flow rate was set at 50 L/min, temperature at 31-34°C, and FiO₂ at 21-36%, individualized according to oxygen saturation and patient tolerance. Aerobic exercise was performed on a treadmill with progressive intensity adjustment based on cardiorespiratory response. Control: Conventional 12-session supervised pulmonary rehabilitation program including treadmill aerobic exercise, upper and lower limb resistance training, and patient education. Aerobic workload was determined from baseline incremental load test and progressively adjusted based on cardiorespiratory response. No supplemental device was used during training.

OTHER

Conventional Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

Twelve supervised pulmonary rehabilitation sessions including treadmill-based aerobic exercise, upper and lower limb resistance training, and patient education. Aerobic workload was determined from baseline incremental load test results and progressively adjusted according to each participant's cardiorespiratory response. Heart rate, oxygen saturation, and perceived dyspnea were continuously monitored during all sessions. No supplemental device was used during training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Universidad de Santiago de Chile

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Manuel A GAlvez, MSc · Universidad de Santiago de Chile

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
40 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-05-02
Primary Completion
2025-09-20
Completion
2025-09-20

Countries

  • Chile

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07497230 on ClinicalTrials.gov