Rethinking Pulmonary Rehabilitation - a Three-arm Randomised Multicentre Trial

Last updated: March 5, 2026
Sponsor: Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre
Overall Status: Active - Not Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

N/A

Treatment

Control

home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (HPR)

pulmonary tele-rehabilitation (PTR)

Clinical Study ID

NCT05664945
H-22015777
  • Ages > 40
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is one of the cornerstones of care for people with COPD together with smoking cessation and medical treatment. Despite the compelling evidence for its benefits, pulmonary rehabilitation is delivered to less than 30% of patients with COPD. Access to PR are particularly challenging, and especially for those with the most progressed stages of the disease.

Pulmonary Tele-rehabilitation (PTR) and Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (HPR) are two emerging models using health-care supportive technology that have proven equivalent to the conventional PR programs in patients with COPD who are able and willing to participate in conventional PR.

However, much remain unknown regarding patients with COPD unable to access and participate in the conventional out-patient hospital- or community-based PR when offered during routine consultation. No studies have been conducted to specifically intervene towards this group. Response from emerging rehabilitation models for this specific group is a black box with no substantial research.

To fulfill its potential of relevance, results from emerging models, such as Pulmonary Telerehabilitation and Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation must be of clinical relevance, and superior to the current 'usual care' (medication and scheduled follow-up control) in patients with COPD unable to access and participate in the conventional out-patient hospital- or community-based PR when offered during routine consultation.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Indication for pulmonary rehabilitation according to Danish national guidelines

  • Unable to access and participate in the conventional out-patient hospital- orcommunity-based PR when offered during routine consultation

  • A post-bronchodilator ratio FEV1/FVC <70% (confirmed physician diagnosis of COPD)

  • A post-bronchodilator FEV1 <80% (degree of airway obstruction) corresponding to GOLDgrade 2-4 (moderate to very severe)

  • GOLD group B, C, D corresponding to severe respiratory symptoms and/or frequentacute exacerbations

  • Able to stand up from a chair (height 44-46cm) and walk 10 meters independently (with or without a walking aid)

  • Able to lift both arms to a horizontal level with a minimum of 1 kilogram'sdumbbells in each hand

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participation in conventional PR in the past 24 months

  • Cognitive impairment - unable to follow instructions

  • Impaired hearing or vision - unable to see or hear instruction from a tablet

  • Unable to understand and speak Danish

  • Comorbidities where the exercise content is contraindicated (e.g. treatment fordiabetic foot ulcer, active cancer treatment, life expectancy <12-months)

Study Design

Total Participants: 180
Treatment Group(s): 3
Primary Treatment: Control
Phase:
Study Start date:
January 10, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
July 31, 2027

Study Description

This trial will investigate if pulmonary tele-rehabilitation (PTR) and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (HPR) leads to respiratory symptom relief (CAT score) and improvements on secondary outcomes in patients unable to access conventional rehabilitation programs (standard PR offer).

Our hypotheses in a three-arm RCT design are

  1. PTR and HPR will be equivalent to each other

  2. PTR and HPR will be superior to usual care, that is the control group (CON - no intervention)

Connect with a study center

  • Copenhagen University Hospital Amager

    Copenhagen, Greater Copenhagen 2300
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

  • Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg

    Copenhagen, Greater Copenhagen 2400
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

  • Copenhagen University Hospital Herlve-Gentofte

    Gentofte, Greater Copenhagen 2820
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

  • Copenhagen University Hospital Herlve-Gentofte

    Gentofte Municipality, Greater Copenhagen 2820
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

  • Copenhagen University Hospital Glostrup

    Glostrup, Greater Copenhagen 2600
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

  • Copenhagen University Hospital Nordsjaelland

    Hillerød, Greater Copenhagen 3400
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

  • Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre

    Hvidovre, Greater Copenhagen 2650
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

  • Municipality of Copenhagen

    Copenhagen, 2100
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

  • Bornholms Hospital

    Rønne, 3700
    Denmark

    Site Not Available

Map preview placeholder

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.