Studying nerve activity linked to heart and breathing in people with COPD
Measures nerve activity and related factors in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Sympathetic Nerve Activity Predictors in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Key facts
- Where
- Aachen, GermanySee the site
Where in Germany
- RWTH Aachen UniversityAachen, GermanyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- RWTH Aachen University
- Trial code
- NCT04849806
- Record updated
- 28 January 2026
- Original description
The project will be pursued in our respiratory, autonomic nervous system physiology laboratory (Respiratory, autonomic nervous system physiology laboratory, Department of Pneumology and Intensive Care Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital; Head of Department: Professor Michael Dreher).Read full original descriptionShow less
Dissecting the Nature and Determinants of Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Patients With COPD
The project will be pursued in our respiratory, autonomic nervous system physiology laboratory (Respiratory, autonomic nervous system physiology laboratory, Department of Pneumology and Intensive Care Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital; Head of Department: Professor Michael Dreher).
Overactivity of the sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) axis with "centrally" increased heart rate and peripheral vasoconstriction is a known phenomenon in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) and has recently been described in patients with primary lung disease as seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
However, systematic analyses on this clinically relevant topic are currently lacking.
Thus, using a comprehensive, multimodal approach and state-of-the-art technology, this research project is designed to determine the extent and nature of increased SNA in COPD (AIM 1) and evaluate the underlying mechanisms (AIM 2).
The project will address the following hypotheses:
1. In COPD, concomitant obstructive sleep apnea is independently associated with increased SNA. 2. Precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH), inspiratory muscle dysfunction and systemic inflammation describe a COPD phenotype characterised by increased SNA with a different subtype.
Inclusion: Age ≥ 18; Ability and willingness to give informed consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion: In-patient stay in the hospital within the last 4 weeks prior to the study examination date; Active pacing of the heart by a cardiac pacemaker (i.e. no intrinsic heart rate); Clinically pre-established cardiovascular disease (e.g. arterial hypertension or systolic heart failure); Atrial fibrillation.