Effect of Acetazolamide on Exercise Performance in Patients With Respiratory Disease at Altitude

University of Zurich (UZH)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Treatments: Drug: ACETAZOLAMIDE oral capsule; Drug: Placebo oral capsule

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03177837

2017-00137C

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this trial, the investigators will evaluate the effect of acetazolamide (375 mg per day) vs. placebo on exercise performance at altitude in patients with COPD.

Full description

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel trial evaluating the effect of acetazolamide (375 mg per day) vs. placebo on exercise performance in lowlanders with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease travelling to altitude. Participants living in the Bishkek area, Kyrgyzstan (760m), will be transferred by car within 4h to the Tuja Ashu high altitude clinic (3200 m), and stay there for 2 days. Acetazolamide 375mg/day (or placebo), will be administered 24 hours before departure at 760 m and during the stay at altitude. Outcomes will be assessed during the stay at 3200 m.

Exercise performance will be evaluated by maximal cycling spiroergometry and constant load ergometry.

Enrollment: 176 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients, age 18-75 yrs.
• COPD diagnosed according to GOLD, FEV1 40-80% predicted, SpO2 ≥92% at 750 m.
• Born, raised and currently living at low altitude (<800m).
• Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• COPD exacerbation, very severe COPD with hypoxemia at low altitude (FEV1/FVC <0.7, FEV1 <40% predicted, oxygen saturation on room air <92% at 750 m).
• Comorbidities such as uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, i.e., unstable systemic arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease; previous stroke; OSA; pneumothorax in the last 2 months.
• Internal, neurologic, rheumatologic or psychiatric disease including current heavy smoking (>20 cigarettes per day)
• Known renal failure or allergy to acetazolamide and other sulfonamides

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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176 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

ACETAZOLAMIDE oral capsule

Active Comparator group

Description:

Acetazolamide 375mg/day (capsule @125 mg: 1 in the morning, 2 in the evening), orally. Medication starts 24 hours before ascent to 3200m until the morning after the second night at 3200m

Treatment:

Drug: ACETAZOLAMIDE oral capsule

PLACEBO oral capsule

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo (capsules identically looking as acetazolamide capsules: 1 in the morning, 2 in the evening), orally. Medication starts 24 hours before ascent to 3200m until the morning after the second night at 3200m.

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo oral capsule