Air Purifier Use and Respiratory Health in COPD Patients

Respiratory Benefits of Indoor Air Purification in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of an indoor air purifier intervention on respiratory health in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

This randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial will evaluate the effects of a 12-month home-based air purification intervention on respiratory health in non-smoking COPD patients in China. Participants will be randomized to receive an active or sham air purifier, with all participants and outcome assessors blinded to allocation. Health assessments, including clinical evaluation (e.g., pulmonary function tests, impulse oscillometry, and high-resolution computed tomography of the chest, etc.), questionnaire surveys (e.g., St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire and COPD Assessment Test, etc.), and biological sample collection (e.g., venous blood and urine, etc.), will be conducted at baseline and during follow-up visits at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months. In addition, monthly telephone follow-ups will be performed to assess respiratory health status throughout the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 50 and 80 years old
• Physician diagnosis of COPD
• Living in Shanghai during the intervention period
• Subjects who have no plans to change homes during the intervention period
• Non-smokers and former smokers

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects living in a location other than home
• Subjects with a history of alcohol abuse
• Subjects with other chronic lung diseases, such as active tuberculosis, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
• Subjects with a history of thoracic surgery
• Subjects with a history of malignant tumors, such as lung cancer, liver cancer, or gastric cancer
• Subjects with diagnosed chronic hepatic or renal insufficiency, such as liver cirrhosis, chronic viral hepatitis, or autoimmune liver disease
• Subjects with acute myocardial infarction or unstable arrhythmia diagnosed within the past 6 weeks
• Subjects currently participating in other interventional studies