NCT07003399

Diaphragmatic Function and Respiratory Drive in OSA and COPD

Diaphragmatic Morphofunction and Respiratory Drive in OSA and COPD: Insights From Ultrasound and EMG-based Cross-Sectional Analysis

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Nanjing Medical University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This cross-sectional observational study aims to assess the diaphragmatic morphofunction and respiratory drive characteristics among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), overlap syndrome (OS), and healthy controls. Using ultrasound imaging and surface diaphragm electromyography (EMGdi), the study will explore group differences in diaphragmatic morphology, function, and respiratory drive indicators, and evaluate their clinical significance in disease differentiation and severity assessment.

Detailed description

This is a single-center cross-sectional study designed to compare the diaphragmatic morphofunction and respiratory drive among four groups: OSA, COPD, overlap syndrome (patients with both OSA and COPD), and healthy controls. Participants will undergo overnight polysomnography (PSG), spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and diaphragm ultrasound combined with surface EMGdi measurements. The study will analyze group differences in diaphragmatic thickness, excursion, thickening fraction, and EMGdi parameters including EMGdi-rest, EMGdi-max, and EMGdi%max. The relationships between diaphragmatic indicators and respiratory parameters (FEV1, FVC, AHI, R5-R20, etc.) will also be assessed. This study aims to provide objective evidence for diaphragmatic dysfunction characterization in OSA and COPD, as well as to explore its diagnostic utility in overlap syndrome.

Conditions

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Diaphragmatic Ultrasound and EMG Assessment	Non-invasive assessment of diaphragmatic morphofunction and respiratory drive using ultrasound imaging and diaphragm electromyography (EMG). This evaluation will be performed once per participant without any therapeutic intervention.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-08-31
• Completion: 2025-08-31
• First posted: 2025-06-04
• Last updated: 2025-06-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China