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Study Overview

If you choose to participate, you will complete some (or all) of the following visits: 

Visit 1

During the first visit, you will: 

  • Complete questionnaires involving:

    • Medical history ​

    • Smoking exposure

    • Lung health

  • Complete a short breathing test called oscillometry

  • Complete a longer general lung function breathing test called a pulmonary function test (PFT)

  • A blood draw

  • This visit takes about two hours

Visit 2

During the second visit:

  • You will complete a chest xenon MRI 

    • A xenon MRI uses the gas xenon to allow for more contrast in the images taken during the MRI.

  • You will complete a chest CT

  • The MRI + CT visit takes about two hours

  • If you would like this visit and visit 1 to be on the same day, please let us know and we will try our best to accomodate

Visit 3

There is an optional third visit in which you complete exercise testing.

  • The testing takes place at the Health and Integrative Physiology Laboratory at the University of British Columbia or at the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation at St. Paul's Hospital

  • You will complete

    • Questionnaires ​

    • Exercises while your breathing is measured via a catheter that is inserted through the nose into the esophagus. 

  • This visit will take about 2 hours. 

Visit 4

There is an optional fourth visit in which you complete a bronchoscopy.

  • A bronchoscopy is a camera test that allows for images to be taken of the inside of the lungs.

    • It also allows insight into the lungs at a cellular level.​

  • The procedure is completed under conscious sedation

  • There are some risks involved, including:

    • Bleeding​

    • Infection

    • Reaction to anesthesia

    • Pneumothorax (less than 1 in 1000 procedures)

  • Bronchoscopies are routinely done to diagnose lung conditions

  • The night after the procedure, experiencing flu like symptoms is common

  • The bronchoscopy itself takes about 45 minutes, but you will stay at the hospital for a few hours so the doctor can monitor your breathing 

Every three months, you will be contacted by phone or email by a study team member to complete a quick questionnaire. 

18 Months

18 months after your first visit, you will be asked to return to St. Paul's to complete the following:

  • Complete questionnaires involving

    • Medical history​

    • Smoking history

    • Lung health

  • A blood draw

  • An oscillometry breathing test

  • A lung function test (spirometry)

  • Bronchoscopy if you completed it previously

36 Months

Three years after your first appointment, you will be asked to come back to St. Paul's. This will involve repeating the same tests that were completed in your first year: 

  • Questionnaires

  • Lung function tests

  • Chest CT and MRI

  • A blood draw

  • Exercise testing if you completed it in the first year

  • Bronchoscopy if you completed it in the first year 

Once you a complete all your visits for the year, Dr. Leung will provide a health report detailing the results of the assessments. results can be provided upon request. You will be financially compensated for your time.

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