Investigating the Effects of Wearing Compression Stockings to Improve Asthma Symptoms at Night

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Nocturnal worsening of asthma is common. It is characterized by overnight exacerbation of asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing, increased need of asthma medications and airway hyperresponsiveness, and decline in lung function (1). Nocturnal asthma has been attributed in part to circadian variations in lung function and airway inflammation. However, other factors including sleep, supine posture and lung volume may also contribute to nocturnal asthma. Current treatments often improve nighttime asthma symptoms. Nevertheless, nocturnal asthma is still common. Up to 2/3rd of asthma patients report nocturnal asthma symptoms, and many asthma related events occur at night, indicating poor asthma control. Results from an ongoing study suggest that in asthma while subjects were supine, fluid shifted out of the legs and accumulated in the thorax (rostral fluid shift) contributing to lower airway narrowing in asthma. A previou study has shown that wearing compression stockings during the day reduces fluid retention in the legs, reduces nocturnal rostral fluid shift out of the legs, and improves sleep apnea (2, 3). The aims of the proposed study is investigate whether off-the-shelf, below the knee compression stockings will attenuate nocturnal fluid shift and lower airway narrowing in asthma.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 20
Maximum Age: 75
Healthy Volunteers: t
Locations
Other Locations
Canada
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (TRI)
RECRUITING
Toronto
Contact Information
Primary
Cristina O Francisco
cristina.francisco@uhn.ca
416 597 3422
Time Frame
Start Date: 2017-02-21
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-08-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 40
Treatments
Active_comparator: Asthma group
Participants will be randomized to wear compression stockings or to control group for two weeks and cross over in the end of the period. When assigned to wear compression stockings, they will be instructed to put the stockings on as soon as they get up in the morning and to remove them just prior to bedtime for two weeks. If they have become loose, a new pair will be fitted. They will be given a diary to record the time they put on and remove the compression stockings each day. They will be telephoned after one week to check the fit of the compression stockings.
Active_comparator: Healthy group
Participants will be randomized to wear compression stockings or to control group for two weeks and cross over in the end of the period. When assigned to wear compression stockings, they will be instructed to put the stockings on as soon as they get up in the morning and to remove them just prior to bedtime for two weeks. If they have become loose, a new pair will be fitted. They will be given a diary to record the time they put on and remove the compression stockings each day. They will be telephoned after one week to check the fit of the compression stockings.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: University Health Network, Toronto

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov