An interventional study of virtual reality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, sponsored by Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph. Recruiting at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-03.
Sponsored by Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
Chronic respiratory diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), are a leading cause of death globally. These diseases not only contribute significantly to mortality but also lead to a decline in physical capacity, limiting daily activities and perpetuating a vicious cycle of deconditioning. Dyspnea (shortness of breath) is a major symptom, seen in 56 to 98% of COPD patients, and is linked to decreased exercise tolerance and muscle dysfunction. It often leads to reduced physical activity, further worsening respiratory function and quality of life. Dyspnea severity is associated with increased mortality, hospitalizations, and anxiety. The main therapeutic approach for these patients is pulmonary rehabilitation, which improves exercise tolerance, quality of life, and reduces hospitalizations and exacerbations. However, dyspnea limits exercise and is often a barrier to continued physical activity.
Virtual reality (VR) technology has shown promise in managing symptoms like pain, anxiety, and dyspnea by providing a distraction. Studies suggest that VR can improve dyspnea and anxiety, particularly in patients hospitalized for conditions like COVID-19. However, research on VR's immediate effects on exercise capacity is limited, with most studies focusing on non-immersive exergames rather than immersive VR. The potential of VR to improve exercise tolerance in patients with chronic respiratory diseases remains uncertain. Our study aims to test this hypothesis through a randomized crossover trial to assess VR's impact on dyspnea and exercise tolerance in these patients.
5,520 studies on the registry are indexed under Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; 856 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 26 is below the median of 62 across 3,839 interventional studies indexed under Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive.
Browse Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive studies →Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph is the lead sponsor of 346 studies on the registry; 51 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patient will undergo the rehabilitation session as the usual without the virtual reality mask.
the patient will undergo the rehabilitation session with a virtual reality mask
Other: virtual reality
the patient will wear a VR mask during the session
Effort duration
Compare the total duration of effort during a constant-load test on a cycle ergometer between rehabilitation with VR immersion and rehabilitation alone. Total duration of sustained effort during a constant-load test (in seconds)."
Time frame: twice a week during up to 4 weeks
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Oct 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Apr 2027, 6 months after the start.
Of 1,094 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, half reached primary completion within 22 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 41. This study's planned 6 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 1,181 studies reached it within 22 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 39.
Since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026, the dates moved once, on Nov 3, 2026: start Sep 2026 → Oct 2026, primary completion Mar 2027 → Apr 2027 and completion Mar 2027 → Apr 2027.
Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive →
Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph →