Comparing CPET Guided Rehabilitation to Physiotherapy for Dysfunctional Breathing
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Guided Physiotherapy During Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients With Dysfunctional Breathing, a Randomized Controlled Trial
This study is testing if a special breathing rehab program guided by exercise tests helps people with dysfunctional breathing feel better compared to regular physiotherapy.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 78 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Evangelismos Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Athens, Attica) |
| Trial ID | NCT06707623 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effectiveness of a pulmonary rehabilitation program tailored for patients with dysfunctional breathing (DB) using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). It compares this specialized rehabilitation approach to traditional physiotherapy, which is the current standard treatment for DB. The study aims to provide evidence on the efficacy of these treatments and address the lack of consensus on diagnosing DB. Participants will undergo a two-month outpatient rehabilitation program, including multiple physiotherapy sessions, to assess symptom relief and improvement in breathing patterns.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults over 18 diagnosed with dysfunctional breathing through CPET who can commit to the rehabilitation program.
Not a fit: Patients with underlying conditions explaining dyspnea, such as COPD or uncontrolled asthma, will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective treatment options for patients suffering from dysfunctional breathing.
How similar studies have performed: While traditional physiotherapy is widely used, this approach utilizing CPET is novel and has not been extensively tested in this context.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Dysfunctional breathing (DB) diagnosed with CPET. * Adult patients (\>18 years of age) * Able and willing to attend an outpatient multidisciplinary, supervised rehabilitation program of a total duration of two months (8 weeks). * Able and willing to attend 5 physiotherapy sessions over a period of 9 weeks. * Sign an informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * No underling pathology explaining dyspnea and DB in CPET (e.g normal dead space to tidal volume ratio (VD/Vt) and normal alveolar-arterial (A-a) gradient.) * Patients with COPD * Patients with uncontrolled asthma * Patients with post-exertional malaise (PEM). * Patients that cannot attend an outpatient rehabilitation program like suffering from dementia, chronically paralyzed, with paraplegia, multiple injuries, or other serious orthopaedic problems that cause disability or suffer from very serious underlying diseases such as end-stage cancer, and patients with neurological diseases that cause disability, require specialized rehabilitation clinics and special interventions (speech therapy, kinesiotherapy, etc.).
Where this trial is running
Athens, Attica
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit, 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services Evangelismos Hospital — Athens, Attica, Greece (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Andreas Asimakos, MD, PhD
- Email: silverakos@gmail.com
- Phone: +302132043395
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.