NCT07058259

Acupuncture for Persistent Dyspnea Despite Medical Treatment in COPD

The Effect of Acupuncture in COPD Patients With Persistent Dyspnea Despite Medical Treatment

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Istanbul Medeniyet University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 40 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunctive non-pharmacological therapy in patients with stable COPD who continue to experience dyspnea despite optimal medical treatment.

Detailed description

A total of 60 patients diagnosed with COPD will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving standard pharmacological treatment or an intervention group receiving standard treatment plus acupuncture. The intervention group will undergo 10 acupuncture sessions (twice weekly for 5 weeks) using predefined acupuncture points based on previous COPD studies. Primary outcomes include changes in dyspnea severity measured by the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and the Borg scale. Secondary outcomes include changes in pulmonary function (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC) and functional exercise capacity assessed by the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT). Spirometry and exercise testing will be performed pre- and post-intervention. The study will help determine whether acupuncture provides statistically and clinically meaningful improvements in symptom burden and exercise tolerance in COPD management.

Conditions

• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Acupuncture

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Acupuncture	Acupuncture will be administered twice weekly for 5 weeks (10 sessions total) at predefined bilateral acupoints: LU1, LU9, LI18, ST36, GB12, BL13, BL20, and BL23. Single-use, sterile 25 mm × 0.25 mm needles will be inserted at each point for 20 minutes per session.
DRUG	Standard COPD Pharmacological Therapy (LAMA + LABA or LAMA + LABA + ICS)	Patients in this group receive standard pharmacological treatment for COPD according to current clinical guidelines. Treatment includes either dual or triple inhaler therapy: Dual Therapy (LABA + LAMA): Patients receive a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) such as Formoterol, Salmeterol, Olodaterol, Vilanterol, or Indacaterol, in combination with a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) such as Tiotropium bromide, Umeclidinium, or Glycopyrronium. Triple Therapy (LABA + LAMA + ICS): Patients receive the above combination of LABA and LAMA plus an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) such as Budesonide, Fluticasone, or Beclometasone. These medications may be administered either as fixed-dose combination inhalers or as separate inhalers, depending on patient needs and physician discretion. The treatment regimen is individualized based on clinical condition, prior therapy, and symptom severity.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-11-15
• Primary completion: 2025-06-30
• Completion: 2026-01-15
• First posted: 2025-07-10
• Last updated: 2025-07-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)