Actively Recruiting
Investigating Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction's Role in Breathlessness and Exercise Limits in Interstitial Lung Disease Patients with Supplemental Oxygen Assessment
Led by University of British Columbia · Updated on 2025-01-16
40
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
125 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are investigating why patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) often experience breathlessness (dyspnea) and difficulty exercising. The study focuses on the role of leg muscle dysfunction and fatigue in contributing to these symptoms. It aims to compare muscle function between ILD patients and healthy individuals, explore how muscle fatigue affects breathlessness and exercise limits, and test whether breathing extra oxygen during exercise can help reduce muscle fatigue and improve exercise ability in ILD patients. Participants will attend four separate visits. At the first visit, medical history, questionnaires, lung function tests, and an incremental exercise test will be completed. The second visit includes MRI scans of leg muscles and muscle function tests. During the third visit, participants will perform an exercise test breathing normal air until exhaustion. The fourth visit involves a similar exercise test but while breathing 60% oxygen to evaluate the effect of supplemental oxygen on muscle fatigue and exercise capacity. Throughout the study, researchers will measure breathlessness every minute during exercise and assess leg muscle strength before and after exercise sessions. They will also record muscle fatigue, exercise tolerance, and the impact of supplemental oxygen. The study lasts up to about eight weeks from the baseline. The findings aim to improve understanding of muscle problems in ILD and how they influence symptoms and physical activity.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Skeletal Muscle Function in Interstitial Lung Disease
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 40 to 80 years inclusive
- Diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, or unclassifiable ILD with related diagnoses
- Fibrosis visible on high resolution CT scan (honeycombing, reticulation, or traction bronchiectasis)
- Suitable for pulmonary rehabilitation
- Able to walk 50 meters or more in 6 minutes
- Oxygen saturation of 92% or higher at rest on room air
- Clinically stable for at least 6 weeks
- Able to read and write English fluently
- For healthy controls: age 40 to 80 years inclusive
- Normal lung function (80-120% predicted)
- No lung or heart disease
- Able to read and write English fluently
You will not qualify if you...
- Contraindications to exercise testing such as serious heart, muscle, or nerve disease
- Other major diseases that could reduce exercise ability or oxygen levels
- Forced vital capacity less than 50% or carbon monoxide diffusion capacity less than 25%
- Pulmonary rehabilitation program within the last 6 months
- Use of prednisone over 10 mg/day for more than 2 weeks within 3 months before the study
- Significant emphysema (less than 10% volume on CT or FEV1/FVC less than 0.70)
- For healthy controls: current smoking or over 10 pack-years smoking history
- Any medical condition preventing safe exercise
- Presence of a pacemaker or metal/electronic devices inside the body
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
St. Paul's Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6Z1Y6
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
O
Olivia Ferguson, MSc
S
Satvir S Dhillon, MSc
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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