RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

The Use of Entropy to Assess Sleep Disordered Breathing in Chronic Respiratory Disease

This research is investigating sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in adults who have long-term lung conditions such as asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis. SDB includes conditions like sleep apnoea, where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, lowering oxygen levels. Currently, sleep studies monitor oxygen, heart rate, and breathing to detect SDB. The study aims to find differences between people with long-term lung conditions who have SDB and those who don't. Researchers are using a new, advanced way to analyse existing sleep study information. This approach, called 'entropy', looks for patterns in the data to gain a deeper understanding of how these health issues affect the body during sleep. The goal is to learn more about these conditions using simple monitoring equipment.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University College, London

Enrolment target

120

Start

30 Apr 2025

Estimated completion

30 Sep 2026

Bronchial Asthma Bronchiectasis ILD COPD OSAHS OSA Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)

What is this study about?

This research is focused on understanding how long-term lung conditions, such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and bronchiectasis, are linked with breathing problems during sleep. These breathing issues, known as sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), include common conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea. In sleep apnoea, your breathing repeatedly pauses or becomes very shallow while you're asleep, which can lead to lower oxygen levels in your blood. When someone has both a long-term lung condition and SDB, these breathing problems during sleep might become worse.

To find out if someone has SDB, doctors often use sleep studies that measure things like oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing patterns while you sleep. This study is taking that information and applying a new, advanced analysis technique. Instead of just looking at averages, this new method, called 'entropy', can find more subtle patterns and changes in the body's signals during sleep. This helps researchers dig deeper into the complex ways your body controls breathing and other functions while you're resting.

The main goal is to see if this new analysis can show clear differences between people with long-term lung conditions who also have sleep breathing problems and those who don't. By understanding these differences better and finding new ways to analyse data from simple monitoring devices, the hope is to gain more insight into these conditions. Ultimately, this research could lead to better ways to understand and potentially manage breathing issues in people with long-term lung conditions.

Key takeaways

This study explores sleep breathing issues in people with long-term lung diseases.
It uses a new, advanced way to look at sleep study information.
The goal is to better understand these conditions and how they affect sleep.
Participation involves no new medicines and minimal, easy-to-use monitoring.
It aims to find differences between those with and without sleep-related breathing problems.
This research could help improve future understanding and care for lung conditions.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults aged 18 years and older who have a long-term lung condition. This includes conditions like asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and bronchiectasis. You might have sleep-disordered breathing already, or you might not – both groups are important for this study. The research also includes people who have had sleep studies before that did not show any major problems, to act as a comparison group.

To be part of this study, you must be able to understand what the study involves and be happy to sign a consent form, showing you agree to take part. You also need to be willing to sleep with some portable monitoring devices, which are usually small and easy to use. The researchers want to make sure everyone involved is able to fully understand and participate comfortably.

However, if you are under 18 years old, you won't be able to join. Also, if there are medical reasons why you shouldn't use the small monitoring devices, or if you can't give informed consent (for example, if you have difficulty understanding the information), then you wouldn't be able to take part in this particular study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have a long-term lung condition like asthma, COPD, or bronchiectasis?
Can you understand the study information and agree to take part?
Would you be willing to sleep with small, portable monitoring devices at home, if needed?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study is mainly about analysing existing information or collecting new data using simple, portable equipment you can wear at home. You won't need to take any new medications for the study. If you're asked to wear monitoring devices, these would typically be small sensors that track your oxygen levels and heart rate while you sleep, similar to what's used in some routine sleep checks. These devices are usually easy to use and not uncomfortable. There are no specific clinic visits mentioned beyond what would be needed for your regular care or to explain how to use any monitoring equipment. The total duration of your participation would depend on whether you are providing existing data or using new monitoring, but it's likely to be a short period, potentially just one night of monitoring at home.

Potential risks and benefits

The potential benefits of taking part in this study include contributing valuable information that could help researchers better understand sleep-disordered breathing in people with long-term lung conditions. This understanding might lead to improved ways to identify or manage these conditions in the future, which could help many people. There are very few risks associated with this study, as it primarily involves analysing existing data or using simple, non-invasive monitoring equipment (like a finger sensor for oxygen) while you sleep. This equipment is generally safe and causes no discomfort. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Royal Free hospital
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'sleep-disordered breathing'?

It's a group of conditions where your breathing isn't normal during sleep, like when you briefly stop breathing (sleep apnoea) or breathe very shallowly, which can lower your oxygen levels.

What are 'long-term lung conditions'?

These are health problems that affect your lungs for a long time, such as asthma, COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis), bronchiectasis, and interstitial lung disease (ILD).

What does 'analysing sleep study data using a novel analytical approach' mean?

It means the researchers are using a new, more advanced method to look closely at information from sleep studies, like your oxygen levels and heart rate, to find out more about how your body works during sleep.

Will I have to stay overnight in a hospital for this study?

No, it's very unlikely. If any monitoring is needed, it would typically involve using small, portable devices at home while you sleep.

Will this study change my current treatment?

This study is for research purposes only and will not directly change your current medical treatment. Always discuss your care with your own doctor.

How to find out more

Nawal Alotaibi

n.alotaibi@ucl.ac.uk 02080168375 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.