Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Mar 10, 2021
Date Accepted: May 19, 2021
The efficacy of the Dyson Air Purifier in Improving Asthma control: protocol of a single-centre, investigator-led, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Indoor air quality has been shown to influence asthma control and outcomes. Air purifiers and high-efficiency particulate air filtration devices can improve indoor air quality by reducing indoor levels of air pollution and allergens. However, the influence of this improved indoor air quality on asthma control is unclear. Randomised controlled trials are required to elucidate this further.
Objective:
This study aims to investigate the effect of reducing the level of allergens and pollutants in the bedroom and living room on asthma control, through the use of Dyson air purifiers (Dyson Pure CoolTM).
Methods:
This is an 18 month long, investigator-led, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single-centre trial. Subjects will be randomised at a 1:1 ratio to active or placebo Dyson filters. The primary outcome is the change in Asthma control questionnaire-6 and Asthma specific Quality of Life questionnaire from baseline. Secondary outcomes include changes in lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/Forced vital capacity ratio, and mid expiratory flows), peak expiratory flow measurements, airway hyper-responsiveness (assessed by Methacholine Bronchial challenge), fractional exhaled nitric oxide and indoor air pollutant levels. The sample size will be 50 subjects and all subjects will have a confirmed diagnosis of mild persistent to moderate persistent asthma with an Asthma control questionnaire-6 of >1.5.
Results:
This study was approved by the West Midlands Research Ethics Committee: (18/WM/0277). Study results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, presented at relevant scientific conferences, shared in plain English with participants in our newsletters, in our clinics and via The David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre website. Our trial began in September 2019 and is expected to end in August 2021.
Conclusions:
This is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised, investigator-led study to investigate the efficacy of a novel air purifier in improving asthma control in adults. The trial period of 18 months will facilitate the collection of robust data and will therefore generate clear signals. However, this extended trial duration may lead to patient withdrawal. Furthermore, this trial is at a single centre and conducted in a location with a homogenous cohort of people which may affect translatability. Nonetheless, it is hoped that the findings of this trial may help further inform clinicians regarding the utility of this novel device as an adjunct in asthma care. Clinical Trial: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04729530
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