← Back to Search

Device

Air Purification for Asthma

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Meredith C. McCormack, MD, MHS

Research Sponsored by Johns Hopkins University

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Persistent asthma (NAEPP criteria)

Spends ≥4 nights/week at home

Must not have

Significant pulmonary or cardiac disease

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up baseline and about 12 weeks after the intervention

Summary

This trial will test whether reducing indoor pollution improves the respiratory health of overweight children with asthma more than that of lean children with asthma.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for children aged 8-17 living in Baltimore with persistent asthma, who are either of normal weight or overweight. They must spend most nights at home and have had an asthma exacerbation within the last year. Kids can't join if they're underweight, pregnant, smoke, have serious lung/heart conditions, or live in homes in disrepair.

What is being tested?

The AIRWEIGHS study tests whether using air purifiers with HEPA filters at home can better improve respiratory health for overweight kids with asthma compared to those of normal weight. It's a randomized trial where half get real air purifiers and half get placebo ones without filters.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this trial involves air purifiers rather than medication, there aren't typical drug side effects. However, there might be unexpected reactions like noise discomfort from the device or psychological effects from knowing they're part of a study.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Select...

I have long-term asthma.

Select...

I spend at least 4 nights a week at my home.

Select...

I am between 8 and 17 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

Select...

I have a serious heart or lung condition.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ baseline and about 12 weeks after the intervention

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~baseline and about 12 weeks after the intervention

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline and about 12 weeks after the intervention for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Maximum Symptom Days

Secondary study objectives

Asthma Control

Asthma Symptoms

FENO

+2 more

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Active Control

Placebo Group

Group I: Active Air PurifierActive Control1 Intervention

Two portable air purifiers containing HEPA filters will be placed in the bedroom and room where the participant reports spending the most time. We have chosen to deploy two air purifiers because we have observed a 50% reduction in indoor PM concentrations with two air purifiers. Participants will be instructed to run the air purifiers continually. Participants will receive educational materials about environmental factors that are important for asthma health and environmental modification strategies. Participants will also receive educational materials about health benefits of maintaining a normal weight.

Group II: Placebo Air PurifierPlacebo Group1 Intervention

Homes in the control group will receive placebo air purifiers that have the internal air filters removed, but which will run normally. Participants will receive educational materials about environmental factors that are important for asthma health and environmental modification strategies, and educational materials about health benefits of maintaining a normal weight. At the end of the study, participants in the control group will receive active air purifiers. A control group is needed to ensure that reduced pollutant levels and health effects are not due to temporal trends and 'placebo effects' of being enrolled in an intervention trial. Participants will also be informed that being in the study does not prevent them from purchasing and using air cleaners during the study period.

0 / 4Eligibility criteria met