# A Randomized Controlled Trial of Home Air Purification for Eosinophilic COPD

> **NIH NIH R01** · BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $758,204

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an incurable and deadly disease that affects 15% of
adults over 40 years of age in the United States, and is exacerbated by exposure to air pollution. Up to 40% of
COPD patients have a more inflammatory subtype with eosinophilia (>150 eosinophils per µL) and appear to
be more responsive to anti-inflammatory medications, including inhaled steroids and novel targeted antibodies
that block eosinophil formation. However, these medications are expensive and have adverse side effects. It
is unknown if prevention of exposure to air pollution and allergens—which have been demonstrated to interact
with each other to cause airway inflammation—may be of therapeutic benefit in eosinophilic COPD. High
efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers hold great promise to improve COPD symptoms and lung function,
because they effectively remove particles from the indoor air, including traffic-related particles that are
associated with reduced lung function in COPD, and allergens that can provoke airway inflammation,
especially in those with atopy which is common in eosinophilic COPD. Recent studies have found that HEPA
filters improve symptoms and lung function for allergic asthma, but this intervention has never been evaluated
for eosinophilic COPD. The overall objective is to evaluate the effect of a one-year blinded randomized
controlled trial of a HEPA vs sham air purifier intervention on lung function, respiratory symptoms, and the
upper respiratory tract (as a site of inhaled exposure and biologic response) among 200 former smokers with
eosinophilic COPD. The central hypothesis is that removal of particles in the bedroom and living room by a
HEPA air purifier will improve the respiratory health of patients with eosinophilic COPD.
 The first aim will test if a one-year HEPA filter intervention in the bedroom and living room affects lung
function (primary outcome), respiratory symptoms, and health status compared to sham filter. The second aim
will test if the intervention affects levels of inflammatory mediators in the nasal epithelial lining fluid. The third
(exploratory) aim will evaluate if the intervention affects levels of certain dust- and combustion-related metals in
the nasal epithelial lining fluid. The investigators hypothesize that improved air quality due to HEPA filters will
improve lung function, respiratory symptoms, and health status by St. George Respiratory Questionnaire. It is
further hypothesized that air purification will reduce inflammatory mediators relevant to allergic and non-allergic
airway pathophysiology, and also reduce dust- and combustion-related metals in the upper respiratory tract.
 The findings of this project may provide the medical community with two new tools—(1) a HEPA filter
intervention, and (2) an assay of upper respiratory exposure and response—that can be used to promote
healthier lives among people with eosinophilic COPD. Without such knowledge...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10164786
- **Project number:** 5R01ES031252-02
- **Recipient organization:** BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary B Rice
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $758,204
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-15 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10164786

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10164786, A Randomized Controlled Trial of Home Air Purification for Eosinophilic COPD (5R01ES031252-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10164786. Licensed CC0.

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