Hydrogen/oxygen therapy for the treatment of an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group controlled trial

• Published in: Respiratory research Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 149 - 12
• Main Authors: Zheng, Ze-Guang, Sun, Wu-Zhuang, Hu, Jie-Ying, Jie, Zhi-Jun, Xu, Jin-Fu, Cao, Jie, Song, Yuan-Lin, Wang, Chang-Hui, Wang, Jing, Zhao, Hui, Guo, Zhong-Liang, Zhong, Nan-Shan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 13.05.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Acute exacerbation; Adverse events; Airway management; Care and treatment; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Clinical trials; Cough; Disease; Double-blind studies; Hydrogen; Lung diseases; Lung diseases, Obstructive; Mortality; Nitrous oxide; Obstructive lung disease; Outcome; Oxygen; Oxygen content; Oxygen saturation; Oxygen therapy; Patients; Performance evaluation; Pulmonary functions; Respiratory function; Safety; Signs and symptoms; Sputum; Testing; Therapy; Variance analysis; China; Oxygen; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Acute exacerbation; Hydrogen; Outcome
• ISSN: 1465-993X; 1465-9921; 1465-993X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12931-021-01740-w

To investigate whether the administration of hydrogen/oxygen mixture was superior to oxygen in improving symptoms in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). This prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial in 10 centres enrolled patient with AECOPD and a Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale (BCSS) score of at least 6 points. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (in a 1:1 ratio) to receive either hydrogen/oxygen mixture or oxygen therapy. Primary endpoint was the change from baseline in BCSS score at day 7. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded to evaluate safety. Change of BCSS score in Hydrogen/oxygen group was larger than that in Oxygen group (- 5.3 vs. - 2.4 point; difference: - 2.75 [95% CI - 3.27 to - 2.22], meeting criteria for superiority). Similar results were observed in other time points from day 2 through day 6. There was a significant reduction of Cough Assessment Test score in Hydrogen/oxygen group compared to control (- 11.00 vs. - 6.00, p < 0.001). Changes in pulmonary function, arterial blood gas and noninvasive oxygen saturation did not differ significantly between groups as well as other endpoints. AEs were reported in 34 (63.0%) patients in Hydrogen/oxygen group and 42 (77.8%) in Oxygen group. No death and equipment defects were reported during study period. The trial demonstrated that hydrogen/oxygen therapy is superior to oxygen therapy in patient with AECOPD with acceptable safety and tolerability profile. Name of the registry: U.S National Library of Medicine Clinical Trials; Trial registration number: NCT04000451; Date of registration: June 27, 2019-Retrospectively registered; URL of trial registry record: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04000451?term=04000451&draw=2&rank=1 .