Clinical trial NCT03177811: Effect of Acetazolamide on Postural Control in Patients With Respiratory Disease at Altitude
Official title: Effect of Acetazolamide on Postural Control in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at Altitude: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Parallel Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Keywords: postural control
balance performance
airway disease
altitude
prevention
acetazolamide
Lead sponsor: University of Zurich
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine named after academician M.Mirrakhimov
First posted: 2017-06-06
Enrollment: 127
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 75
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: In this trial, the investigators will evaluate the effect of acetazolamide (375 mg per day) vs. placebo on postural control at acute altitude exposure in patients with COPD.

Detailed description: This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel trial evaluating the effect of acetazolamide (375 mg per day) vs. placebo on postural control at altitude (Tuja Ashu, 3200 m). 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. Randomization to acetazolamide or placebo will be carried out after baseline measurements in Bishkek (760 m).

Postural control will be assessed by a rectangular, stable balance platform (Wii Balance Board) measuring the body's center of gravity. The movement of the body's center of gravity will be recorded in a two-dimensional coordinate system and indicated as path length.

Eligibility criteria: 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

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in postural control
timeFrame: Day 2 at 760m and 3200m
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in arterial oxygen saturation
timeFrame: Day 2 at 760m and 3200m
measure: acute mountain sickness
timeFrame: Day 2 at 3200m
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bishkek
country: Kyrgyzstan
facility: National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Zurich
name: Konrad E Bloch, MD
role: STUDY_CHAIR
affiliation: National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
name: Talant M Sooronbaev, MD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References: