Strategy for Early Treatment of Exacerbations in COPD: Standing Prescriptions of Advair With a Written Action Plan in the Event of an Exacerbation
Information source: McGill University Health Center
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: COPD; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Intervention: Double dose of Salmeterol + Fluticasone Propionate (Drug); Self-management education on the use of a self-administered prescription for exacerbation. (Behavioral); Self-administered prescription (Drug)
Phase: Phase 4
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: McGill University Health Center Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): Jean Bourbeau, MD, FRCPC, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: McGill University Health Center
Summary
The purpose of this pilot study is to determine whether early treatment of acute
exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) with a combination therapy,
Salmeterol + Fluticasone Propionate (SFP - Advair) will reduce the use of prednisone, known
as the conventional treatment.
Primary objective: To determine whether early treatment with combination therapy (SFP) can
reduce the use of prednisone (the conventional treatment) in the event of an AECOPD.
Secondary objectives:
- To evaluate the feasibility of this treatment approach and to provide pilot data
(needed for a larger multi-centre clinical trial;
- To evaluate the feasibility and need of assessment during and after exacerbation onset,
health-related quality of life and physical activity;
- To evaluate the safety of this approach; this is in terms of the delay in starting
prednisone and an unfavourable outcome (ER visits and/or hospitalization).
Clinical Details
Official title: Phase IV Study; Strategy for Early Treatment of Exacerbations in COPD: Standing Prescriptions of Advair With a Written Action Plan in the Event of an Exacerbation
Study design: Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Primary outcome: Percentage of participants with treatment success (no need of prednisone)
Secondary outcome: Change from baseline in Quality of life as measured by the St Georges Respiratory QuestionnairePercentage of patients who used healthcare resources (visits to Doctor and visits to the COPD nurse) Percentage of patients who presented Cardiovascular Events Percentage of patients who presented any Adverse Events Percentage of patients who developed Pneumonia Percentage of patients with ER admissions Percentage of patients who had any Hospital admissions
Detailed description:
BACKGROUND Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are of major importance since they are
associated with adverse effects on morbidity, health status, and costs. Conventional
treatment includes the use of antibiotics and oral corticosteroids (OCS). However, OCS is
associated with significant side effects. This is of considerable importance since
exacerbation occurs on average 2 to 4 times per year in COPD patients. Alternative treatment
such as high dose inhaled corticosteroids has also been shown to be effective in the
treatment of AECOPD. Recently, studies have clearly demonstrated the effect of combination
therapy (SFP) on key inflammatory cells and a marked enhance anti-inflammatory effect when
compared to inhaled corticosteroids alone. Inhaled corticosteroids have a high level of
topical anti-inflammatory activity and a low level of systemic. Additionally, combination
therapy with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonists (SFP) appears
to produce significant anti-inflammatory effects in COPD airways that are not seen when
inhaled or oral steroids are used alone. This could offer a potential for an alternative
treatment to oral corticosteroids in AECOPD.
RATIONALE None of the inhaled treatments is likely to be adopted and to replace the use of
OCS for the treatment of AECOPD unless it is used promptly at the onset of symptom
worsening. Early treatment has been shown to have clinical importance in accelerating
symptom recovery and reducing hospital admission. Recently, the investigators have
demonstrated that the early treatment of AECOPD can be achieved by the implementation of a
written action plan as part of a self-management education.
The use of action plans helps COPD patients recognize symptom changes, implement self-care
and self-initiate a customized prescription (antibiotics & oral steroids) in the event of an
exacerbation. Self-management education programs with a written action plan that includes
standing prescriptions with combination therapy (SFP) in the event of an exacerbation may be
promising in reducing the use of prednisone in AECOPD, the conventional treatment.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 40 Years.
Maximum age: N/A.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of stable COPD;
- 40 years or older;
- Smoking history of at least 10 pack-years;
- Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) ≤ 70 % of predicted value and FEV1 /
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) < 0. 70;
- Dyspnea ≥ 2 on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale;
- At least 2 exacerbations requiring prednisone treatment in the past 3 years;
- Using a written action plan and having demonstrated adequate use of the
self-administered antibiotic & prednisone (adequate use defined as prednisone started
by the patient within 72 hours of symptom worsening and patient called the
case-manager as recommended for following the response);
- Already on Advair BID (twice a day) as a maintenance therapy or able to switch over
to Advair if already taking another combination medication (Symbicort) as maintenance
therapy for COPD.
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of asthma or allergic rhinitis before the age of 40;
- Regular use of oxygen, oral corticosteroids, antibiotics;
- Unstable or life threatening co-morbid condition;
- Medical conditions or taking medications known to affect tremor and/or heart rate
(HR).
- Pre-existing medical conditions or on concomitant medications contraindicated with
salmeterol or fluticasone propionate (e. g. monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic
antidepressants, beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents, non potassium-sparing
diuretics, inhibitors of cytochrome P450 (ritonavir, ketoconazole));
- On theophyllines.
- Colonized with pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Locations and Contacts
Montreal Chest Institute, Montreal, Quebec H2X2P4, Canada
Additional Information
Starting date: July 2008
Last updated: May 13, 2014
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