NCT07481825

Impact of Combined Cardio-pulmonary Assessment on COPD Clinical Management.

Impact of Combined cARdio-pUlmonary aSsessment on COPD Clinical Management: the ICARUS Study

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 350 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Bari Aldo Moro · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 41 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether a combined cardio-pulmonary assessment improves cardiac function, exercise capacity, cardiac biomarkers and health-related quality of life in adults with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are at high cardiovascular risk or have established cardiovascular disease. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the combined cardio-pulmonary assessment improve mean left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) over 12 months compared with standard respiratory care? * Does the combined cardio-pulmonary assessment improve mean 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) over 12 months compared with standard respiratory care? * Does the combined cardio-pulmonary assessment reduce mean NT-proBNP over 12 months compared with standard respiratory care? * Does the combined cardio-pulmonary assessment improve mean Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12) score over 12 months compared with standard respiratory care? Researchers will compare a combined cardio-pulmonary assessment to standard respiratory care to see whether the integrated approach leads to greater improvements in EF, 6MWD, NT-proBNP, and KCCQ-12. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to receive either a combined cardio-pulmonary assessment or standard respiratory care * Complete a baseline visit that includes clinical assessment, respiratory function testing, blood tests (including NT-proBNP), a 6-minute walk test, and the KCCQ-12 questionnaire * Undergo cardiovascular evaluation (electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiography) if assigned to the combined assessment group * Attend follow-up evaluation at 12 months, repeating the same assessments according to their assigned group

Conditions

• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Cardiovascular Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Structured combined cardio-pulmonary clinical management strategy	This intervention consists of a structured combined cardio-pulmonary outpatient evaluation in patients with COPD and either high cardiovascular risk or established cardiovascular disease. In addition to standard respiratory assessment (clinical history, lung function testing, 6-minute walk test, laboratory tests and guideline-based management), participants undergo a structured cardiovascular evaluation including ECG and transthoracic echocardiography. Treatment optimization is performed according to current respiratory and cardiovascular guidelines based on integrated multidisciplinary assessment. Follow-up is conducted at 12 months using the same integrated approach.
OTHER	Standard Respiratory Management	Participants receive standard COPD outpatient evaluation including clinical history, symptom assessment (CAT, mMRC), lung function testing, 6-minute walk test, laboratory testing and guideline-based respiratory management. No structured cardiovascular assessment (ECG or echocardiography) is systematically performed as part of the study intervention. Cardiovascular referral may occur only according to usual clinical practice.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-09-01
• Primary completion: 2029-04-01
• Completion: 2029-11-01
• First posted: 2026-03-19
• Last updated: 2026-03-19