Heat Waves and the Elderly With COPD

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Aging; Hyperthermia; COPD

Treatments: Other: Control; Other: Water Spray

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06295523

STU_2019_1759_COPD

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to investigate thermoregulatory responses in older individuals with COPD.

Full description

Heat waves are the leading cause of death among natural disasters in the United States.

Elderly individuals are disproportionately more likely to become ill or die during heat waves. While the elderly have a reduced ability to regulate their body temperature,8-10 hospitalizations and deaths in this population during heat waves are primarily due to cardiovascular and/or respiratory complications, not solely hyperthermia. While previous research has primarily focused on the thermal and cardiovascular consequences of healthy aging, very little research has focused on the physiological responses to heat exposure in older individuals with chronic disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Notably, epidemiological data suggests that pulmonary complications are a leading cause of heat wave-related hospitalizations in older adults with a diagnosis of COPD, yet nothing is known regarding the physiological mechanisms by which those with COPD are most susceptible to heat waves. To fill this important gap, the investigators will identify the physiological responses that occur in this population, relative to healthy age-matched individuals, during two unique heat wave simulations.

Enrollment: 44 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 65 years old or older
• Diagnosis of COPD

Exclusion criteria

• Known heart disease
• Other chronic medical conditions requiring regular medical therapy including cancer, diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, and uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia etc
• Abnormality detected on routine screening suggestive of provokable ischemia or previously undetected cardiac disease or resting left bundle branch block on screening electrocardiogram
• Current smokers
• Participant with a body mass index ≥31 kg/m2

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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44 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental: Very hot and dry

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects will be exposed to 3 hours in a climate chamber set to approximately 47 deg C and 15% relative humidity, which reflects a very hot and dry heat wave condition similar to the 2018 Los Angeles heat wave. Two visits will be required to complete this arm, with one visit including water spray for cooling.

Treatment:

Other: Water Spray

Other: Control

Experimental: Hot and humid

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects will be exposed to 3 hours in a climate chamber set to approximately 41 deg C and 40% relative humidity, which reflects hot and humid heat wave similar to the 1995 Chicago heat wave. Two visits will be required to complete this arm, with one visit including water spray for cooling.

Treatment:

Other: Water Spray

Other: Control