A prospective study of salvational intervention with ICS/LABA for reducing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation under severe air pollution (SIRCAP) in Beijing: protocol of a multi-center randomized controlled trial

BackgroundChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) not only accelerates the progression of disease, but also causes hospital administration and death events. Epidemiologic studies have shown air pollution is a high risk factor of AECOPD. However, there are rare technics or treatment strategies recommended to reduce severe air pollution related AECOPD.MethodsThis is a multi-center, prospective, randomized and standard treatment parallel control clinical trial. Seven hundred sixty-four stable COPD patients in group B, C and D according to GOLD 2017 will be recruited and equally divided into two parallel groups, salvational intervention (SI group) and control group (CT group). Original treatments for participants include tiotropium (18g once q.d), budesonide/formoterol (160g/4.5g once or twice b.i.d) or budesonide/formoterol (160g/4.5g once or twice b.i.d) with tiotropium (18g once q.d). The savational intervention for SI group is routine treatment plus budesonide/formoterol (160g/4.5g once b.i.d) from the first day after severe air pollution (air quality index, AQI 200) to the third day after AQI<200. CT group will maintain the original treatment. The intervention will last for 2years. Primary outcome is the frequency of AECOPD per year and the secondary outcomes include the incidence of unplanned outpatient visits, emergency visits, hospitalization, medical cost and mortality associated with AECOPD per year.DiscussionThe salvational intervention is a novel strategy for COPD management under severe air pollution. Results of the present study will provide reference information to guide clinical practice in reducing the air pollution related exacerbation of COPD.Trial registrationThis study has been registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov (registration identifier: NCT03083067) in 17 March, 2017.