Effectiveness of Low-Dose Theophylline for the Management of Biomass-Associated COPD

Summary

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, and over 90% of COPD-related deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Household air pollution (HAP) - from burning solid fuels such as wood, dung, agricultural crop waste, and coal for energy - is the primary risk factor for COPD in these settings. Biomass-related COPD has a distinct histopathology, phenotype and inflammatory profile when compared to tobacco mediated COPD. Despite the high global burden of biomass-related disease, little is known about the effectiveness of pharmacotherapies for biomass-related COPD; to date, no clinical trials have focused specifically on treatment of biomass-related COPD. This study proposes to assess the health impact of biomass-related COPD and test the effectiveness of low dose theophylline compared to standard therapy among adults with biomass-related COPD in Uganda with the aim to assess whether low-dose theophylline improves respiratory symptoms, decreases the inflammatory profile of serum biomarkers and whether administration attenuates the effect of HAP on lung function. The study additionally aims to assess whether low-dose theophylline is a cost-effective intervention based on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and a range of willingness to pay thresholds.

Timeline

Start

2021-02-23

Primary completion

2023-10-17

Completion

2023-12-15

Publications

• Background Bonjour S, Adair-Rohani H, Wolf J, Bruce NG, Mehta S, Pruss-Ustun A, Lahiff M, Rehfuess EA, Mishra V, Smith KR. Solid fuel use for household cooking: country and regional estimates for 1980-2010. Environ Health Perspect. 2013 Jul;121(7):784-90. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1205987. Epub 2013 May 3.
• Background Siddharthan T, Grigsby MR, Goodman D, Chowdhury M, Rubinstein A, Irazola V, Gutierrez L, Miranda JJ, Bernabe-Ortiz A, Alam D, Kirenga B, Jones R, van Gemert F, Wise RA, Checkley W. Association between Household Air Pollution Exposure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Outcomes in 13 Low- and Middle-Income Country Settings. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018 Mar 1;197(5):611-620. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201709-1861OC.
• Background Moran-Mendoza O, Perez-Padilla JR, Salazar-Flores M, Vazquez-Alfaro F. Wood smoke-associated lung disease: a clinical, functional, radiological and pathological description. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2008 Sep;12(9):1092-8.
• Background Perez-Padilla R, Ramirez-Venegas A, Sansores-Martinez R. Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Biomass Smoke-Associated COPD and Chronic Bronchitis, 2004-2014. Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2014 May 6;1(1):23-32. doi: 10.15326/jcopdf.1.1.2013.0004.
• Background Ait-Khaled N, Enarson D, Bousquet J. Chronic respiratory diseases in developing countries: the burden and strategies for prevention and management. Bull World Health Organ. 2001;79(10):971-9. Epub 2001 Nov 1.
• Background Beran D, Zar HJ, Perrin C, Menezes AM, Burney P; Forum of International Respiratory Societies working group collaboration. Burden of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and access to essential medicines in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet Respir Med. 2015 Feb;3(2):159-170. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(15)00004-1.
• Background Barnes PJ. Theophylline in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: new horizons. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2005;2(4):334-9; discussion 340-1. doi: 10.1513/pats.200504-024SR.
• Background Ford PA, Durham AL, Russell RE, Gordon F, Adcock IM, Barnes PJ. Treatment effects of low-dose theophylline combined with an inhaled corticosteroid in COPD. Chest. 2010 Jun;137(6):1338-44. doi: 10.1378/chest.09-2363. Epub 2010 Mar 18.
• Background Rivera RM, Cosio MG, Ghezzo H, Salazar M, Perez-Padilla R. Comparison of lung morphology in COPD secondary to cigarette and biomass smoke. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2008 Aug;12(8):972-7.
• Background Mendis S, Fukino K, Cameron A, Laing R, Filipe A Jr, Khatib O, Leowski J, Ewen M. The availability and affordability of selected essential medicines for chronic diseases in six low- and middle-income countries. Bull World Health Organ. 2007 Apr;85(4):279-88. doi: 10.2471/blt.06.033647.
• Background Zhou Y, Wang X, Zeng X, Qiu R, Xie J, Liu S, Zheng J, Zhong N, Ran P. Positive benefits of theophylline in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of low-dose, slow-release theophylline in the treatment of COPD for 1 year. Respirology. 2006 Sep;11(5):603-10. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2006.00897.x.
• Siddharthan T, Pollard SL, Jackson P, Robertson NM, Wosu AC, Rahman N, Padalkar R, Sekitoleko I, Namazzi E, Alupo P, Hurst JR, Kalyesubula R, Dowdy D, Wise R, Barnes PJ, Checkley W, Kirenga B. Effectiveness of low-dose theophylline for the management of biomass-associated COPD (LODOT-BCOPD): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2021 Mar 16;22(1):213. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05163-2.

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