Acupoint transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in hospitalized copd patients with severe dyspnoea: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a major cause of hospital admissions and dyspnoea is its main symptom. Some studies have concluded that a new modality of acupuncture called Acupuncture transcutaneous nerve stimulation (acuTENS) could reduce dyspnoea in COPD patients by increasing beta-endorphin levels, however those trials have mainly been conducted on patients with stable condition. This study aims to determinate if the administration of acuTENS can reduce dyspnoea in patients hospitalized for AECOPD. Methods A multicentric randomized control trial with patient- and assessor-blinded will be conducted. A sample of 60 patients will be randomised to receive 45 minutes of either real acuTENS or sham acuTENS treatment once a day during 5 consecutive days. The trial will be conducted at the “Hospital del Mar” of Barcelona (Spain) and the “Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Manresa” in Manresa (Spain). The Borg scale at baseline, and day 1 to 5 will be the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will be the duration of the hospitalization, quantity of drugs administrated, expiratory peck flow adverse effects and mortality and readmissions at 3 months. Discussion AcuTENS is non-pharmacological, non-invasive and cheap intervention. This trial will help to understand acuTENS potential role in the treatment of AECOPD.