Measuring Exhaled Carbon Dioxide to Gauge Severe COPD Flare-ups
Checks exhaled carbon dioxide levels in adults during chronic lung disease flare-ups.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Monitoring of the End-tidal Carbon Dioxide (EtCO2) as a Severity Criterion in COPD Exacerbations
Key facts
- Where
- Grenoble and Lyon, FranceSee the 2 sites
Where in France
- CHU Grenoble AlpesGrenoble, FranceTaking people
- Hospices Civils de LyonLyon, FranceTaking 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
- University Hospital, Grenoble
- Trial code
- NCT05704881
- Record updated
- 15 April 2026
- Original description
Although we know that these numbers are underestimated, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic respiratory disease that affects between 8 and 12% of adults. According to a 2020 WHO report, it is the third most common cause of mortality in developed countries. This disease is punctuated by exacerbations associated with an 8% mortality of hospitalized patients, increased to 24% when the patient is admitted to intensive care unit. Early detection and treatment of these exacerbations appears to be essential to improve patient survival. End-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) is used to assess a patient's respiratory and hemodynamic status. Indeed, EtCO2 is a non-invasive measure that could allow the estimation of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) without performing blood gases, an arterial blood sampling, classically at the radial artery. This study aimed to find an EtCO2 value which at the time of the initial management, would be predictive of a severe COPD exacerbation, as well as PaCO2.Read full original descriptionShow less
Monitoring of the End-tidal Carbon Dioxide (EtCO2 ) as a Severity Criterion in COPD Exacerbations: a Prospective Observational Study
Although we know that these numbers are underestimated, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic respiratory disease that affects between 8 and 12% of adults. According to a 2020 WHO report, it is the third most common cause of mortality in developed countries. This disease is punctuated by exacerbations associated with an 8% mortality of hospitalized patients, increased to 24% when the patient is admitted to intensive care unit. Early detection and treatment of these exacerbations appears to be essential to improve patient survival. End-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) is used to assess a patient's respiratory and hemodynamic status. Indeed, EtCO2 is a non-invasive measure that could allow the estimation of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) without performing blood gases, an arterial blood sampling, classically at the radial artery. This study aimed to find an EtCO2 value which at the time of the initial management, would be predictive of a severe COPD exacerbation, as well as PaCO2.
Inclusion: All patient presenting to the emergency department with acute dyspnea and with a history of COPD documented or reported by the patient and/or family; Male or female≥18 years old who did not oppose to participating in the study.
Exclusion: Patient already included in the study during a previous visit to the emergency department; Hypotension (SBP < 90 mmHg or MBP < 65 mmHg); Patient already ventilated with invasive or NIV during admission to the emergency department; COPD exacerbation rejected after medical and additional examinations; Non-communicative or non-French speaking patients, or with impaired comprehension, or with impaired consciousness; Protected persons referred to in articles L1121-6 and L1121-8 of French public health code (deprived of liberty, tutorship or curatorship).