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Impact of Combined Cardio-pulmonary Assessment on COPD Clinical Management.
Sponsor: University of Bari Aldo Moro
Summary
The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether a combined cardio-pulmonary assessment improves cardiac function, exercise capacity, cardiac biomarkers and health-related quality of life in adults with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are at high cardiovascular risk or have established cardiovascular disease. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the combined cardio-pulmonary assessment improve mean left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) over 12 months compared with standard respiratory care? * Does the combined cardio-pulmonary assessment improve mean 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) over 12 months compared with standard respiratory care? * Does the combined cardio-pulmonary assessment reduce mean NT-proBNP over 12 months compared with standard respiratory care? * Does the combined cardio-pulmonary assessment improve mean Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12) score over 12 months compared with standard respiratory care? Researchers will compare a combined cardio-pulmonary assessment to standard respiratory care to see whether the integrated approach leads to greater improvements in EF, 6MWD, NT-proBNP, and KCCQ-12. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to receive either a combined cardio-pulmonary assessment or standard respiratory care * Complete a baseline visit that includes clinical assessment, respiratory function testing, blood tests (including NT-proBNP), a 6-minute walk test, and the KCCQ-12 questionnaire * Undergo cardiovascular evaluation (electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiography) if assigned to the combined assessment group * Attend follow-up evaluation at 12 months, repeating the same assessments according to their assigned group
Official title: Impact of Combined cARdio-pUlmonary aSsessment on COPD Clinical Management: the ICARUS Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
41 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
350
Start Date
2026-09
Completion Date
2029-11
Last Updated
2026-03-19
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Structured combined cardio-pulmonary clinical management strategy
This intervention consists of a structured combined cardio-pulmonary outpatient evaluation in patients with COPD and either high cardiovascular risk or established cardiovascular disease. In addition to standard respiratory assessment (clinical history, lung function testing, 6-minute walk test, laboratory tests and guideline-based management), participants undergo a structured cardiovascular evaluation including ECG and transthoracic echocardiography. Treatment optimization is performed according to current respiratory and cardiovascular guidelines based on integrated multidisciplinary assessment. Follow-up is conducted at 12 months using the same integrated approach.
Standard Respiratory Management
Participants receive standard COPD outpatient evaluation including clinical history, symptom assessment (CAT, mMRC), lung function testing, 6-minute walk test, laboratory testing and guideline-based respiratory management. No structured cardiovascular assessment (ECG or echocardiography) is systematically performed as part of the study intervention. Cardiovascular referral may occur only according to usual clinical practice.