The EPiC-HFT trial
This clinical trial aims to demonstrate the clinical and cost-utility of home high-flow therapy (HFT), assessing the viability of home HFT as a suitable therapy for patients who have previously been hospitalised due to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation.
Study objectives*
The main objective of the trial is to investigate whether home HFT improves 12-month admission-free survival times, following a severe exacerbation of COPD requiring hospitalisation.
Patient population
- Patients admitted to hospital with an exacerbation of COPD
- Age 40-80 years with smoking history >10 pack years
- Patient’s forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) is <80% predicted
- Patient’s FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.7
Study details
Study type
Prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial with parallel groups.
Primary investigators
Prof Nicholas Hart
Dr Patrick Murphy
Lane Fox Clinical Respiratory Physiology, Research Centre, St Thomas Hospital
Sponsor
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Study design
502 patients randomised into two groups:
- The intervention group: Usual care + Home HFT
- The control group: Usual care
The enrolment period will last 24 months, with a follow-up period of 12 months, for a total study duration of 36 months.
The study endpoints
Primary endpoint:
12-month all cause admission-free survival
Secondary endpoints:
- Patient reported outcome measures (CAT, PSQI, EQ-5D-5L)**
- Physiological effects of HFT
- Cost utility analysis
14 centres
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Learn more: Home HFT for COPD
The expert’s voice
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This content is intended for health professionals only
*For more information visit the investigator’s research page https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/epic-hft
**AECOPD, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; BMI, body mass index; CAT, computerised adaptive tests; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; EPIC, exacerbation prevention in COPD using home high flow therapy; EQ-5D-5L, EuroQol 5-dimension, 5-level quality of life questionnaire; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; HFT, high flow therapy; NIV, non-invasive ventilation; OSA, obstructive sleep apnoea; PaCO2, partial pressure of carbon dioxide; PAP, positive airway pressure; PSQI, Pittsburgh sleep quality index.
Content last updated: 03/2024