Impulse oscillometry for better asthma monitoring
The Potential Added Value of Impulse Oscillometry in Asthma Monitoring
This project will test whether adding impulse oscillometry to routine lung tests helps adults with asthma who are having their maintenance medication stepped up or down.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Brussels) |
| Trial ID | NCT06425562 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a longitudinal observational study enrolling adults with asthma who have a planned change in maintenance therapy. Participants undergo baseline and follow-up visits over 3–6 months with full lung function testing (including FEV1), multiple breath nitrogen washout, impulse oscillometry (IOS), and questionnaires (ACT, ACQ, AQLQ). The study compares changes in IOS parameters versus FEV1, stratified by changes in patient-reported control and quality of life, and examines whether proposed minimal clinically important differences are valid over short follow-up intervals. No investigational drug is given; the protocol observes real-world treatment changes and corresponding physiological and questionnaire outcomes.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults with physician-diagnosed asthma who have a scheduled outpatient consultation and are prescribed a step-up or step-down in maintenance asthma medication are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with unstable asthma (recent oral steroids or respiratory antibiotics within 4 weeks), major recent medical issues, children, or those not changing maintenance therapy are unlikely to qualify or benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding IOS could reveal airway changes that standard spirometry misses, helping clinicians tailor treatment adjustments more precisely.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has shown IOS can detect small-airway abnormalities not always seen on FEV1, but findings have been mixed and IOS is not yet established as standard practice for routine monitoring.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult asthma patients with a scheduled consultation at the outpatient hospital to whom a step-up or step-down of their pharmacological asthma treatment is prescribed Exclusion Criteria: * Unstable asthma (defined as need for oral corticosteroids or (respiratory) antibiotic course in the 4 weeks before inclusion or any major medical issue in the 4 weeks before inclusion)
Where this trial is running
Brussels
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel — Brussels, Belgium (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Shane Hanon, Prof. Dr. MD.
- Email: Shane.Hanon@uzbrussel.be
- Phone: 02 477 6841
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.