Ment-COPD: Efficacy of L-menthol on Breathlessness in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Sponsor
Region Skane (Other)
Overall Status
Not yet recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT05888597
Collaborator
Lund University (Other)
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Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of L-menthol on breathlessness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
Phase 2

Detailed Description

Breathelssness (Dyspnea) is a cardinal symptom in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often triggered by daily-life physical activities. Despite optimal treatment of the underlying disease, many patients still suffer from chronic and disabling dyspnea for many years, leading to exercise intolerance, and worse morbidity and mortality. To date, an effective pharmacologic treatment to relieve chronic dyspnea is lacking. Recent pilot data support that inhaled L-menthol can markedly decrease laboratory-induced dyspnea in COPD patients, likely through increased afferent feedback of airflow in the airways by inducing a cooling sensation through olfactory stimulation. The aim of this study is therefore to assess the effectiveness and mechanisms of inhaled menthol for relief of chronic dyspnea in patients with COPD.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
20 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Crossover Assignment
Intervention Model Description:
Single-center, randomized (ratio 1:1), double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (RCT) designSingle-center, randomized (ratio 1:1), double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (RCT) design
Masking:
Double (Participant, Care Provider)
Primary Purpose:
Basic Science
Official Title:
Effect of L-menthol on Breathlessness and Exercise Capacity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a Randomized
Anticipated Study Start Date :
May 24, 2023
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Jun 30, 2024
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Dec 30, 2024

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Menthol

In the trial, 30 minutes prior to performing submaximal CPET, participants will be administered, L-menthol patch which will be attached to the inside of a facemask that is connected to the breathing circuit.

Drug: L-menthol
(Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, US)

Placebo Comparator: Placebo

For placebo, the patch will contain a similarly patch with strawberry scent.

Other: Placebo
Strawberry scent (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, US)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Breathlessness intensity [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    The difference between treatment conditions in dyspnea intensity (Borg CR10 scale) at iso-time.

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Dyspnea unpleasantness [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    The difference between treatment conditions in dyspnea unpleasantness (Borg CR10 scale) at iso-time.

  2. Total time [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Time to the limit of tolerance (s) (tLIM)

  3. Exercise capacity [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    V'O2 (aerobic exercise capacity, absolute and in %pred)

  4. Work load [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Workload (W and %pred)

  5. Minute ventilation [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Minute ventilation

  6. Tidal volume (VT) [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Tidal volume (VT)

  7. Ventilatory reserve [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Ventilatory reserve, defined as maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) - VE

  8. Cardiac reserve [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Cardiac reserve, evaluated using the predicted peak heart rate

  9. Inspiratory capacity [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Inspiratory capacity (IC) during exercise

  10. Breathing frequency [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Breathing frequency during exercise

  11. Peak dyspnea intensity [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Dyspnea intensity at peak exercise (Borg CR10)

  12. Leg discomfort [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Leg discomfort (Borg CR10)

  13. Anaerobic threshold [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Timing (and V'O2) of the anaerobic threshold (AT)

  14. Ventilatory efficacy [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Efficacy of ventilation (VE/V'CO2-slope)

  15. Respiratory exchange ratio [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Respiratory exchange ratio (RER), defined as V'CO2/V'O2

  16. Saturation [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    O2-saturation

  17. Stop reason [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Causes of stopping the test

  18. Adverse events [Through study completion, up to 1 year]

    Any adverse events during the test

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years and Older
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  • The subject has given written consent to participate in the study

  • Diagnosis of COPD confirmed by spirometry and a FEV1 < 80% of predicted post bronchodilator at baseline

  • age 18 years or older

  • able to cycle

  • able to understand and talk Swedish to participate in the study procedures, as judged by the Investigator.

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Resting peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) < 92%

  • hospitalization or clinical instability during the last four weeks

  • treatment with supplementary oxygen at rest or during exercise

  • contraindication to exercise testing in accordance with clinical practice guidelines

  • expected survival shorter than six months as judged by the Investigator

  • medical conditions including congestive heart failure, acute coronary artery disease, neuromuscular diseases, severe psychiatric illness, and olfaction disorder.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Lund University Lund Sweden

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • Region Skane
  • Lund University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Zainab Ahmadi, MD, PhD, Region Skåne

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
Region Skane
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT05888597
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • Ment-COPD
First Posted:
Jun 5, 2023
Last Update Posted:
Jun 5, 2023
Last Verified:
May 1, 2023
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
No
Plan to Share IPD:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Jun 5, 2023