Effect of Aclidinium/Formoterol on Nighttime Lung Function and Morning Symptoms in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A number of studies have documented poor sleep quality and troublesome symptoms (breathlessness, cough and sputum production) upon awakening in patients with COPD. However, the investigators know very little about measurements of respiratory mechanics (i.e., lung volumes, respiratory pressures, diaphragm function, etc) during sleep in these patients. The investigators also know little about how modern bronchodilator therapies, or the timing of when they are taken, affect respiratory mechanics during sleep or the severity of early morning respiratory symptoms. COPD is often treated with inhaled bronchodilator medications which are used to open up airways and make it easier for air to get in and out of the lungs. The investigators are studying the effects of a new inhaler that contains two different types of long-acting bronchodilator: formoterol \[a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA)\] and aclidinium bromide \[a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) or anticholinergic\]. Initial studies have shown that this combination therapy taken twice daily can improve some lung function measurements and respiratory symptoms in patients with moderate to severe COPD. There are also reports that evening administration of this medication may provide important advantages in patients with dominant nighttime and early morning symptoms. It is thought that sustained bronchodilation and lung deflation during the night may improve respiratory mechanics, diaphragmatic function, pulmonary gas exchange, sleep quality, and reduce severity of morning symptoms. This study will be the first to explore the effects of a nighttime dose of aclidinium/formoterol combination therapy on detailed measurements of respiratory mechanics and early morning symptoms in COPD. This study will also give us a better understanding of the mechanisms of early morning respiratory symptoms and their improvement with bronchodilators.

STUDY DESIGN: This will be a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study where patients will receive an evening dose of either aclidinium/formoterol (ACL/FOR) or placebo after steady-state conditions on twice-daily ACL/FOR have been established. Patients will continue to take the same dosage of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) as they did prior to study entry. Subjects will complete 4 visits as part of the study, with a fifth follow-up visit if required to ensure return to pre-study health status. After an initial screening visit (Visit 1) to confirm eligibility and a 1-week run-in period on stable triple therapy \[long-acting beta2-agonist/inhaled corticosteroid (LABA/ICS) + long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA)\], subjects will complete baseline testing (Visit 2) which includes: full pulmonary function tests, sleep/symptom questionnaires, and polysomnography which will include periodic measurements of overnight spirometry (sitting and supine). Subjects will then receive 2-week treatment with twice-daily ACL/FOR and continue on the same ICS as during the baseline run-in. Once stability on treatment with ACL/FOR and ICS is established, there will be two overnight treatment visits (Visits 3 and 4), conducted 3-7 days apart to allow for return to normal sleep status between. For these visits, the evening dose of ACL/FOR versus placebo will be randomized to treatment order. Treatment visits will be similar to visit 2 but will include overnight measurements of respiratory mechanics (diaphragm electromyography and respiratory pressures). Short-acting bronchodilators will be withheld for at least 8 hours prior to visits.

SAMPLE SIZE: This is an exploratory physiological study with the primary outcome being an improvement in morning pre-dose trough inspiratory capacity (IC) by 200 ml. A sample size of 20 will provide at least 80% to detect this treatment difference based on a standard deviation (SD) of approximately 0.2 L for a response difference in trough IC (vanNoord, 2006), a two-tailed test and a p\<0.05. The investigators anticipate that all patients will not consent to instrumentation; however, the investigators are hoping for n=12 with respiratory mechanical measurements. Due to the complexity of the study and its measurements, an interim analysis will be conducted after 10 subjects have been completed.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Moderate to severe COPD (post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 30-79%predicted);
* Resting functional residual capacity (FRC) \>120% predicted;
* Clinically stable and on stable triple therapy with an ICS/LABA and tiotropium;
* Symptomatic: Baseline Dyspnea Index ≤8 and answer "in the morning" when asked about what time of day their COPD symptoms are worst.

Exclusion Criteria:

* A diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing;
* Nocturnal oxygen therapy.