Can a puff of oxygen during exercise ease breathlessness for IPF patients?

NCT ID NCT03688334

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether giving extra oxygen (40%) during exercise helps people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who do not have low oxygen at rest but do get low oxygen when active. Fifteen stable IPF patients completed exercise tests while breathing either oxygen or medical air (sham). The researchers measured exercise duration, breathlessness, fatigue, and oxygen levels in the brain and muscles.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

oxygen supplementation (40%)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could show that using oxygen during exercise helps people with IPF feel less breathless and exercise longer.

What could go wrong

This is a very small, early study with only 15 people. The results may not apply to all IPF patients, and the benefit may be small or not meaningful.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital

    Thessaloniki, 57010, Greece