LIVEBETTER: A Trial Comparing Medications in Older Adults With Stable Angina and Multiple Chronic Conditions

Phase 4

Recruiting

• Conditions: Stable Ischemic Heart Disease; Angina
• Interventions: Other: Clinician Discretion; Drug: Beta blocker; Drug: Calcium channel blocker

• Registration Number: NCT05786417
• Lead Sponsor: Yale University

Brief Summary

To establish the effectiveness and tolerability of standard of care anti-anginal treatment (beta-blocker and calcium channel blocker medications) in older adults with symptomatic Stable Ischemic Heart Disease (SIHD) and multiple chronic conditions (MCC).

Detailed Description

Single-blind, randomized (1:1) pragmatic trial comparing Beta-Blocker therapy versus Calcium Channel Blocker therapy in older adults with symptomatic SIHD and MCC with plans to initiate medical treatment with anti-anginal therapy.

Study Aims Aim 1: To compare the effectiveness of anti-anginal medications to improve the symptoms, function, and quality of life among older adults with multiple chronic conditions presenting with stable angina. Aim 2: To compare the tolerability and safety of commonly used anti-anginal medications in older adults with multiple chronic conditions presenting with stable angina. Aim 3 (Exploratory): To compare the long-term effectiveness and safety of specific anti-anginal medicine treatment approaches in older adults with multiple chronic conditions presenting with stable angina. LIVEBETTER consists of 4 study visits during the 12-month follow-up period. Visits are comprised of an interview, six-minute walk, and medical record review. Medication dose and administration will be addressed as part of routine clinical care.

The importance of the knowledge gained includes the following:

1. LIVEBETTER will produce randomized contemporary data on the safety and efficacy of BBs vs CCBs with the goal of filling that gap of evidence in the guidelines and informing clinical practice.

2. LIVEBETTER will generate data on the quality of life, symptomatic, and functional outcomes most pertinent to older adults with multiple chronic conditions and stable angina.

3. LIVEBETTER will provide the first quantitative data on caregiver burden in older adults with stable angina.

Cognition as measured by the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) is an exploratory endpoint included in the parent LIVEBETTER study. In November 2024, additional exploratory neurocognitive study measures were added as part of an ancillary neurocognitive study funded by the National Institute on Aging in September 2024. Additional measures introduced as part of this ancillary study include an extended cognitive battery and instruments to assess depression and functional status. As part of the ancillary neurocognitive study, study follow-up will be extended to 24 months. The exploratory aims of the neurocognitive ancillary study will be to compare the effect of BB vs. CCB on the rate of cognitive decline and incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and probable dementia among older adults with stable angina and MCC in the LIVEBETTER randomized clinical trial.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-03-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-03-23
• Study First Posted: 2023-03-27
• Study Start: 2023-05-10
• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-05
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-06
• Primary Completion: 2027-05-30
• Study Completion: 2027-05-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 960

Inclusion Criteria

OLDER ADULTS WITH SIHD AND MCC

• Age ≥70 years; ≥65 years for underrepresented minorities (URM) of black race or Hispanic ethnicity

• ≥ 2 Multiple Chronic Conditions as defined by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

• Diagnosis of Symptomatic Stable Ischemic Heart Disease with plans to initiate medical therapy identified by at least one of the following:

  1. positive non-invasive functional or anatomic testing suggestive of obstructive coronary artery disease

  2. coronary angiography with stenosis ≥70% in a coronary artery ≥2 mm in diameter or

     ≥50% stenosis of left main

  3. Invasive coronary angiography with positive physiologic testing in at least one vessel (FFR ≤ 0.80 or iFR ≤0.89)

CAREGIVERS

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Identified as caregiver of LIVEBETTER participant

Exclusion Criteria

OLDER ADULTS WITH SIHD AND MCC

• Current taking beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker*

• Contraindication to beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers including:

  1. significant hypotension
  2. high grade AV block
  3. severe symptomatic bradycardia
  4. severe obstructive lung disease

• Documented intolerance to beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers

• Probable or definite high-risk coronary artery disease including unrevascularized left main disease and/or unrevascularized multi-vessel disease including the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery with plans for immediate complete revascularization

• Plans for complete revascularization within 2 weeks

• Clear indication for beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers including:

  1. Diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with reduced ejection fraction within past year
  2. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) within past year

• Actively participating in another clinical trial involving an investigational medication or device

• Primary language other than English or Spanish

• Inability to complete follow-up (e.g. life expectancy <12 months, impaired decision-making determined by validated instrument)

• Previously enrolled in LIVEBETTER

• Refused informed consent

CAREGIVERS

• Professional caregiver (i.e. not a relative or close friend of the participant)
• Primary language other than English or Spanish
• Inability to complete follow-up
• Previously enrolled in LIVEBETTER
• Refused informed consent

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Beta-Blockers (BB) Therapy	Clinician Discretion	Participants randomized to this arm will be given a beta-blocker. Specific and appropriate drug selection from the class of beta blockers (i.e. type of BB, dosing, and escalation of dose) will be left to the site clinician in accordance with clinical guidelines. All BB will be administered orally (i.e. pills).
Beta-Blockers (BB) Therapy	Beta blocker	Participants randomized to this arm will be given a beta-blocker. Specific and appropriate drug selection from the class of beta blockers (i.e. type of BB, dosing, and escalation of dose) will be left to the site clinician in accordance with clinical guidelines. All BB will be administered orally (i.e. pills).
Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB) Therapy	Clinician Discretion	Participants randomized to this arm will be given a calcium channel blocker. Specific and appropriate drug selection from the class of calcium channel blockers (i.e. type of CCB, dosing, and escalation of dose) will be left to the site clinician in accordance with clinical guidelines. All CCB will be administered orally (i.e. pills).
Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB) Therapy	Calcium channel blocker	Participants randomized to this arm will be given a calcium channel blocker. Specific and appropriate drug selection from the class of calcium channel blockers (i.e. type of CCB, dosing, and escalation of dose) will be left to the site clinician in accordance with clinical guidelines. All CCB will be administered orally (i.e. pills).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Quality of Life assessed using EQ-5D-5L	Baseline and 45 days	The EQ-5D-5L represents a global quality of life measure that includes multiple components potentially impacted by the anti-anginal treatments being examined. The EQ-5D-5L score includes questions on mobility, self-care, usual activities, anxiety/depression, and pain/discomfort on a 5-point scale: 1=No Problem, 2=Slight Problem, 3=Moderate Problem, 4=Severe Problem, 5=Extreme Problem or Inability. 0, 1, and negative values corresponding to death, full health, and health states worse than death, respectively. Higher scores indicated greater levels of problems across each of the five dimensions.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Quality of Life assessed using EQ-5D-5L	Baseline, 6 months and 12 months	The EQ-5D-5L represents a global quality of life measure that includes multiple components potentially impacted by the anti-anginal treatments being examined. The EQ-5D-5L score includes questions on mobility, self-care, usual activities, anxiety/depression, and pain/discomfort on a 5-point scale: 1=No Problem, 2=Slight Problem, 3=Moderate Problem, 4=Severe Problem, 5=Extreme Problem or Inability. 0, 1, and negative values corresponding to death, full health, and health states worse than death, respectively. Higher scores indicated greater levels of problems across each of the five dimensions.
Change in Quality of Life assessed using PROMIS® Scale v1.2 - Global Health	Baseline, 45 days, 6 months and 12 months	The PROMIS Scale measures Physical Function (PF), Pain Interference (PI) and Anxiety Components with T - Score = 50 = General Population Mean.; A Score \> 50 = Better Physical Function, Less anxiety and decreased pain A Score \< 50 = Poor Physical Function, More anxiety, and increased pain.
Change in 6-minute walk test	Baseline and 45 days	The 6-minute walk test provides a more objective quantitative measure of mobility, functional performance, and symptom control. It measures the distance an individual can walk over a total of six minutes on a hard, flat surface. The individual can self-pace and rest as needed as they walk back and forth along a marked course. The participant can use an assistive walking device they normally use, such as a cane. The minimum clinically important difference in 6-minute walk distance is approximately 30 meters, a difference that is associated with mortality.
Change in Persistence on medication	up to 6 months	Persistence on anti-anginal medication in the assigned treatment arm, as verified through a combination of the medical records (medication administration) and through self-report. Persistence is defined as either "Persistent" on treatment or "Not persistent" on treatment.
Change in Angina Control assessed using Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) Summary Score	Baseline, 45 days, 6 months and 12 months	The 7-item SAQ instrument captures the frequency of angina with the SAQ Angina Frequency score (and conversely "freedom from angina"), disease-specific effect of angina on physical function with the SAQ Physical Limitation score and quality of life with the Quality of Life score; these scores average to the SAQ Summary score. The scale of the score ranges from 0 - 100. 0 to 24 represents poor health status, 25 to 49 as fair, 50 to 74 as good, and 75 to 100 as excellent.
Change in Caregiver Burden Inventory	Baseline, 45 days, 6 months and 12 months	24-item questionnaire measuring caregiver burden with 5 subscales: (a) Time Dependence; (b) Developmental; (c) Behavior; (d) Physical Burden; (e) Social Burden; (f) Emotional Burden. This measure will provide insight into the degree to which treatment with different anti-anginal therapies impacts caregiver burden. Scores from subscales are summed for total score. The maximum score (maximum burden) is 96, with a minimum possible score of 0. A total score \>36 indicates a risk of caregiver burnout whereas scores near or slightly \>24 indicate a need to seek respite care.

Trial Locations

Locations (9)

Yale School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Wellstar Research Institute; 🇺🇸 Marietta, Georgia, United States

Cook County Health; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States

Brigham and Women's Hospital; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Mt. Sinai Health System; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States

NYC Health and Hospitals, Harlem Hospital; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States

Nirvana Integrative Medicine; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States

Duke University, School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 Durham, North Carolina, United States

Inova Health Care Services; 🇺🇸 Fairfax, Virginia, United States