The American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) is currently recruiting asthma patients for a study examining whether a safe, non-pharmaceutical device that is used for sleep apnea can also improve asthma control.
Asthma is a common lung disease that makes breathing difficult for millions of Americans, both young and old. In 2011, it was estimated that 25.9 million Americans currently had asthma, including 7.1 million children. Asthma is the cause of nearly 11 million ambulatory physician encounters and 440,000 hospitalizations annually.
The ACRC’s current study, the Effect of Positive Airway pressure on Reducing Airway Reactivity in Patients with Asthma, is examining whether the use of CPAP makes airways more relaxed and thus improving asthma. With CPAP treatment, clean, humidified air is blown into the lungs in order to prevent airways from collapsing. Thus the chest and lungs are more expanded helping patients to breathe better.
“If CPAP is found to be effective, this will introduce an entirely new way to treat asthma without medication,” stated Robert Wise, MD, director of the American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers Network. “If we can reduce the number of inhalers and frequency of inhaled rescue medication with this new treatment, it will not only relieve the burden of asthma but improve their quality of life as well.”
The CPAP clinical trial is currently recruiting non-smokers between the ages of 15-60 with history of asthma for their four month study. To learn more about the CPAP study, visit www.lung.org/finding-cures/our-research/acrc/protocols-recruiting.html.
