Fact CheckerSign in

NCT07030881Recruiting

Effect of Spacer Use on Exacerbation Risk in High-Risk Older Adults With Chronic Airway Diseases Receiving Triple Therapy

Effect of Spacer Use on Exacerbation Risk in High-Risk Older Adults With Chronic Airway Diseases Receiving Triple Therapy: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 26 Jun 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

This study evaluates whether adding a spacer device to triple inhaled therapy (ICS/LABA/LAMA via pMDI) can reduce acute exacerbations in elderly patients (≥65 years) with stable chronic airway diseases (COPD or asthma) who are classified as high-risk based on GOLD or GINA guidelines. High risk is defined as ≥1 hospitalization or ≥2 moderate exacerbations in the past 12 months. Despite receiving triple inhaled therapy, these patients often have poor inhaler technique due to age-related limitations. A spacer may improve drug delivery, adherence, and reduce local side effects. In this multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial, 380 participants will be assigned to standard therapy with or without a valved spacer. The primary outcome is the 3-month incidence of moderate-to-severe exacerbations. Secondary outcomes include lung function, adherence, inhalation technique, side effects, and patient satisfaction.

Status (registry)
Recruiting
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
380 (estimated)
First submitted
12 Jun 2025
Start date
17 Jun 2025
Primary completion date
30 Jun 2027
Lead sponsor
First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University
Diseases
Asthma, COPD
NCT number
NCT07030881

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional
  • Planned participants: 380
  • From 17 Jun 2025 to the primary completion date, 30 Jun 2027
  • 9 sites in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • Use of other inhalation devices as primary therapy (e.g., DPI, SMI, or nebulizer);
  • Regular use of a spacer device for ≥3 weeks within 3 months prior to enrollment;

Other illness

  • Severe cognitive impairment (MMSE score \<18);
  • Presence of severe systemic comorbidities (e.g., end-stage malignancy, advanced heart failure, hepatic or renal failure);
  • Known allergy or hypersensitivity to spacer device materials.

Other

  • Current or recent (within 4 weeks) acute exacerbation not fully resolved;
  • Participation in another interventional clinical trial;
  • Inability to use a mouthpiece-based spacer (e.g., structural oral/facial abnormalities, severe anxiety);

Who the study is looking for

  • Age ≥65 years, no gender restriction;
  • Confirmed diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on GOLD criteria or bronchial asthma based on GINA criteria;
  • Currently on stable treatment with fixed-dose combination ICS/LABA/LAMA via pMDI for ≥4 weeks;
  • History of any of the following in the past 12 months:
    • ≥1 hospitalization due to exacerbation, or
    • ≥2 moderate exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids and/or antibiotics;
  • Able to complete inhalation technique training and demonstrate basic communication and device-handling abilities;
  • Provides written informed consent to participate in the study.

Age in the registry: 65 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (9)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
HarbinChinaRecruiting
The Second Affiliated Hospital Of Anhui Medical University
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
HefeiChinaRecruiting
Anhui Chest Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
HefeiChinaRecruiting
Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
NingboChinaRecruiting
The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
NingboChinaRecruiting
Beilun District Second People's Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
NingboChinaRecruiting
Ninghai County First Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
NinghaiChinaRecruiting
Taizhou Municipal Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
TaizhouChinaRecruiting
Taizhou Central Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
TaizhouChinaNot yet recruiting

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.