Clinical Trial of Air Cleaners to Improve Indoor Air Quality and COPD Health

Objectives (include all primary and secondary objectives) Specific Aim #1: To determine whether an air cleaner intervention to improve home air quality will improve respiratory symptoms, quality of life, lung function and reduce risk of exacerbations in former smokers with COPD. Hypothesis: An intervention using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and carbon filter air cleaners in homes of former smokers with COPD will improve respiratory symptoms, quality of life, and lung function and reduce risk of COPD exacerbations compared with placebo (sham air cleaners). Specific Aim #2: To determine whether an air cleaner intervention to improve home air quality will be associated with intermediate outcome measures known to be linked with long term outcomes in COPD, including airway and systemic markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, in former smokers with COPD. Hypothesis 2: An intervention using HEPA and carbon filter air cleaners in homes of formers smokers with COPD will be associated with lower levels of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress known to be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with COPD.