Air Filtration for COPD

Overseen By Insung Kang, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Illinois Institute of Technology

Disqualifiers: Home palliative care, Life expectancy <6 months, Hazardous conditions, others

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 52 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether air cleaners (devices that filter indoor air) can improve air quality and health for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in urban areas. Participants will use either an air cleaner with a HEPA and carbon filter or a similar device without the primary filter. The study also examines how housing and low-cost sensors could impact COPD and air quality. This trial suits U.S. military veterans in Chicago with a COPD diagnosis who have lived in stable housing for at least six months. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance COPD management and air quality.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this air filtration method is safe for COPD patients?

Research has shown that air cleaners with HEPA and carbon filters are safe and effective for people with COPD. These filters reduce indoor air pollution, which can worsen COPD symptoms. They decrease tiny particles in the air by about 50-60%, helping those with breathing problems, like COPD, breathe easier.

Past studies found that people used air cleaners without major side effects. This suggests that people with COPD can generally use these filters without safety concerns.

Overall, air cleaners with HEPA and carbon filters appear to be a safe choice for improving indoor air quality and may help with COPD symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using air cleaners for COPD because they offer a non-drug approach that could make a big difference in managing symptoms. Unlike typical treatments like bronchodilators and steroids that focus on opening airways or reducing inflammation, this air cleaner uses a HEPA and carbon filter to remove airborne pollutants that can irritate the lungs. By filtering out harmful particles from the air, it targets a root cause of symptom flare-ups, potentially improving air quality and reducing exposure to triggers. This approach could complement existing treatments and provide relief with fewer side effects.

What evidence suggests that air filtration is effective for COPD?

This trial will compare the effects of an air cleaner with HEPA and carbon filters to a placebo air cleaner with the primary filter removed. Research has shown that air cleaners with HEPA and carbon filters can benefit people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Studies have found that these filters can reduce indoor air pollution by 50-60%, which correlates with fewer COPD symptoms. Other research found that using air cleaners noticeably improved breathing health, reducing the need for medications. This suggests that air filtration could be a practical way to help manage COPD symptoms by improving indoor air quality. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Israel Rubinstein, MD

Principal Investigator

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Kaveeta Jagota

Principal Investigator

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Mohammad Heidarinejad, PhD

Principal Investigator

Illinois Institute of Technology

Zane Elfessi, PharmD

Principal Investigator

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for U.S. military veterans aged 18 and older who have COPD, live in Chicago, can consent, speak English, have stable housing for over 6 months, can communicate by phone, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive care at JBVAMC. Those with a life expectancy under 6 months or hazardous home conditions cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

English speaking and writing

Able to provide consent

Stable housing for at least 6 months prior to screening

Exclusion Criteria

Concomitant operation of a non-study air cleaner and alike by a participant in his/her current residence at any time during the course of the trial constitutes protocol violation leading to disqualification of said participant from the study

I am receiving care at home to manage my symptoms.

People who already have an air purifier or similar device in their home will not be included in the screening.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Housing condition assessments and baseline measurements of indoor and outdoor air quality and environmental conditions

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive either a functioning air cleaner with HEPA filter or a placebo unit for approximately 1 year

52 weeks

Regular monitoring visits (in-person and virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including clinical outcomes and quality of life assessments

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Air cleaner

Trial Overview

The study tests if stand-alone air filters improve indoor air quality and health outcomes for veterans with COPD. It also examines housing factors affecting COPD exacerbation, the use of low-cost sensors to monitor indoor pollution, and the cost-effectiveness of using air filters.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

an air cleaner with HEPA and carbon filter installed

Group II: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

an air cleaner with the primary filter removed

Air cleaner is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Air Cleaner for:

• Improving indoor air quality for COPD patients
• Reducing COPD exacerbation risk
• Improving quality of life and functional status

Approved in European Union as Air Purifier for:

• Relieving symptoms of COPD
• Improving heart health in COPD patients
• Reducing indoor air pollution

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Illinois Institute of Technology

Lead Sponsor

Trials

26

Recruited

15,300+

Elevate

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

130+

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Collaborator

Trials

8

Recruited

1,900+

US Department of Housing and Urban Development

Collaborator

Trials

8

Recruited

5,800+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving nine patients allergic to house dust mites, an air-cleaning device with a HEPA filter did not significantly reduce indoor levels of Dermatophagoides sp. allergens or improve symptoms related to bronchial hyperresponsiveness and rhinitis over a 2-month period.

Although the mean level of allergens decreased spontaneously during the study, the air-cleaner alone was found to be insufficient as a substitute for standard avoidance measures for managing mite allergies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of an air-cleaning device equipped with a high efficiency particulate air filter in house dust mite respiratory allergy. Antonicelli, L., Bilò, MB., Pucci, S., et al.[2021]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health issue, currently the fourth leading cause of death globally, with expected increases in prevalence and mortality in the coming decades.

The commonly used 'fixed ratio' method for diagnosing COPD (FEV1/FVC < 0.7) may lead to misclassification of patients and oversimplification of the disease's complex nature, suggesting a need for more nuanced diagnostic approaches.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis: the simpler the better? Not always. Di Marco, F., Tantucci, C., Pellegrino, G., et al.[2022]

The use of active portable high-efficiency particulate air cleaners showed a significant reduction in respiratory symptoms and moderate exacerbations in former smokers with COPD over a 6-month period, indicating potential health benefits from reducing indoor particulate matter.

Participants who adhered to using the air cleaners and spent more time indoors experienced greater improvements in their respiratory health, suggesting that these devices could be particularly effective for individuals with COPD in indoor environments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized Clinical Trial of Air Cleaners to Improve Indoor Air Quality and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Health: Results of the CLEAN AIR Study. Hansel, NN., Putcha, N., Woo, H., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 225 children aged 6 to 12 with asthma exposed to secondhand smoke, the use of HEPA air cleaners resulted in 42 fewer unscheduled asthma visits, indicating a significant reduction in asthma-related emergencies (P = .043).

The intervention group experienced a 25% reduction in airborne particles, while the control group only saw a 5% reduction, suggesting that HEPA air cleaners effectively lower harmful particulate levels, although no significant differences were found in reported asthma symptoms or other biomarkers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of HEPA air cleaners on unscheduled asthma visits and asthma symptoms for children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke. Lanphear, BP., Hornung, RW., Khoury, J., et al.[2021]

In a 6-month study involving 116 former smokers with COPD, 76.1% of participants adhered to using portable air cleaners at least 80% of the time, which could potentially improve their respiratory health by reducing indoor pollutants.

Factors such as higher household income and using electric heating were linked to better adherence, while lower quality of life and recent exacerbations were associated with lower adherence, indicating that socioeconomic and health status play crucial roles in the effectiveness of air cleaner interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patterns and Predictors of Air Cleaner Adherence Among Adults with COPD. Lorizio, W., Woo, H., McCormack, MC., et al.[2022]

Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are particularly sensitive to ambient air pollution particles, despite being exposed to much higher levels of particles from smoking, which raises concerns about their health.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has included particulate matter levels in its air quality index to help raise awareness and discourage exposure to elevated levels of air pollution for vulnerable populations like those with COPD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ambient air pollution particles and the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sint, T., Donohue, JF., Ghio, AJ.[2019]

Citations

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Randomized Clinical Trial of Air Cleaners to Improve ...

Indoor particulate matter is associated with worse chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outcomes. It remains unknown whether reductions of indoor ...

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Air Filtration for COPD in VA Population of Veterans

The goal of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of stand-alone air filtration for improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and chronic obstructive ...

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aaqr.org/articles/aaqr-23-08-oa-0202

Real-World Effectiveness of Portable Air Cleaners in ...

PACs equipped with filters are generally inexpensive, practical, and known to reduce indoor PM2.5 levels by typically 50–60% in experimental interventions, ...

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trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-025-08880-0

Study protocol for a 1-year, randomized, single-blind, parallel ...

This study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of stand-alone air filtration for reducing residential indoor particulate matter concentrations and improving ...

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sciencedirect.com

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Cleaning indoor air—what works for respiratory health

Several studies, including those focused on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, demonstrated improvement in symptoms and medication receipt with ...

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Multi-Center Clean Air Randomized Controlled Trial in COPD

This is a multi-center randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of an air cleaner intervention aimed at improving indoor air ...