MedPath

LiveSMART Trial to Prevent Falls in Patients With Cirrhosis

Phase 3
Recruiting
Conditions
Cirrhosis, Liver
Portal Hypertension
Interventions
Behavioral: Enhanced Usual Care
Behavioral: Investigator recommended exercise
Behavioral: TeleTai-Chi (virtual)
Registration Number
NCT05794555
Lead Sponsor
University of Michigan
Brief Summary

This multicenter trial is being conducted to determine if sequential lactulose and Tele (virtual) Tai-Chi reduces the rate of injurious fall, non-injurious falls, incident overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE), and death or liver transplant over 24 weeks.

Participants that are enrolled will be randomized to stage one of this project for approximately 12 weeks. After completing stage one, participants will be re-randomized to stage 2 of the project that will last approximately 12 more weeks.

The study hypothesizes that sequential lactulose/TeleTai-Chi will reduce falls, incident overt HE, death and physical frailty and will improve cognitive function, and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) over 24 weeks compared to other treatment combinations.

Detailed Description

The Clinicaltrials.gov registration record was updated as requested by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) based on protocol amendment version 3.0 after approval by the Institutional Review Board. These changes included: the additional aim for a supplemental observational study to assess social determinants of health, financial burdens, etc., and includes recruitment of the caregivers for this supplemental study along with the trial participants, as well as updated outcomes for the trial. The caregivers that are enrolled are not in the clinical trial. Because all of the outcome measures in the supplemental study are other outcome measures (neither primary nor secondary to the trial) these are not included in this registration.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
430
Inclusion Criteria
  • Clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis based on histology and/or imaging specified in the protocol.

  • Evidence of portal hypertension - must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    • Ascites (present or within past 2 years)
    • Varices (seen by Esophagogastroduodenoscopy or by Ultrasound(US) or cross-sectional imaging)
    • Fibroscan Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) >25 kilopascals (kPa) (if no other factors present)
    • Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) LSM > 5 kPa (if no other factors present)
    • Acoustic radiation force impulse LSM > 17kpa (if no other factors present)
    • Hepatic vein pressure gradient > 10 millimetres of mercury (mmHg)
    • Portal hypertensive gastropathy seen on Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
    • Platelet count < 80/ units per liter (uL)
    • Recanalized umbilical vein (by US or cross-sectional imaging)
  • Access to Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) at home

  • Owns or access to a smartphone, tablet or computer

  • English or Spanish speaking

  • Willing to participate in exercise program

Exclusion Criteria
  • Overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) within 6 months, requiring >28 days total of lactulose
  • Took lactulose for non - HE reasons for >28 days total in last 6 months
  • Took Rifaximin for > 28 days total in last 6 months
  • Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) > 25 (Exception: MELD > 25 with clinically stable End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) for whom the bilirubin is < 5 g/dL)
  • Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) > C Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
  • Currently taking Sorafenib, Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab, Regorafinib, or Cabozatinib
  • Greater than (>) 3 paracentesis/month in last 2 months
  • Active Metastatic solid malignancy or acute leukemia within last 3 years
  • Severe cognitive, vision, or hearing impairment (without use of corrective lenses or hearing assist devices) or psychiatric illness precluding study participation
  • Currently participates in Tai-Chi or performs >150 min/week vigorous physical activity
  • Currently receiving lower body physical and/or occupational therapy
  • Living in an assisted living facility
  • Hemoglobin A1C > 12 (within past 12 months)
  • Requires a low galactose diet
  • Deemed unsuitable by the study investigator

Inclusion Criteria for the Caregivers of the participants:

  • Adult > 18 years of age
  • Informal caregiver of a participant enrolled in LIVE-SMART
  • English speaking

Exclusion Criteria for the Caregivers of the participants:

  • Non-English speaking

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SEQUENTIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Enhanced Usual Care groupEnhanced Usual CareParticipants will be in stage 1 for approximately 12 weeks and then be re-randomized for stage 2.
Treatment (Lactulose) group plus Enhanced Usual CareEnhanced Usual CareParticipants will be in stage 1 for approximately 12 weeks and then be re-randomized for stage 2.
Enhanced Usual Care group followed by investigator recommended exerciseEnhanced Usual CareThis is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants).
Enhanced Usual Care group followed by investigator recommended exerciseInvestigator recommended exerciseThis is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants).
Treatment (Lactulose) plus Enhanced Usual Care then TeleTai-Chi exercise classesEnhanced Usual CareThis is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants)
Treatment (Lactulose) plus Enhanced Usual Care then TeleTai-Chi exercise classesTeleTai-Chi (virtual)This is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants)
Enhanced Usual Care group followed by Tele-Tai Chi exercise classesEnhanced Usual CareThis is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants)
Treatment (Lactulose) plus Enhanced Usual Care then recommended exerciseEnhanced Usual CareThis is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants)
Enhanced Usual Care group followed by Tele-Tai Chi exercise classesTeleTai-Chi (virtual)This is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants)
Treatment (Lactulose) plus Enhanced Usual Care then recommended exerciseInvestigator recommended exerciseThis is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants)
Treatment (Lactulose) group plus Enhanced Usual CareLactuloseParticipants will be in stage 1 for approximately 12 weeks and then be re-randomized for stage 2.
Treatment (Lactulose) plus Enhanced Usual Care then TeleTai-Chi exercise classesLactuloseThis is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants)
Treatment (Lactulose) plus Enhanced Usual Care then recommended exerciseLactuloseThis is considered stage 2 for 12 weeks (for re-randomized participants)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of patients experiencing a hierarchical composite of events over 24 weeks: injurious falls, non-injurious falls, incident Hepatic Encephalopathy, liver transplant, and death/transplantBaseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

Composite outcome is defined as any of the following:

• Injurious Fall: Fracture, dislocation, cut, head injury, soft - tissue injury requiring medical intervention including: Hospitalization or overnight observation in the Emergency Room (ER); surgery, transfusion, stitches

* Non - Injurious Fall: Inadvertently coming to rest on the floor or lower level

* Include falls that result in minor injuries that are addressed with first aid (e.g., ice, bandage)

* Incident Overt HE: Acute disorientation requiring hospitalization or the initiation of HE - directed therapy, confirmed by a gastroenterologist or study investigator

* Death: Mortality with any cause

* Liver transplant: Replacement of a diseased liver with the healthy liver from another person because of acute-on-chronic liver failure (using the EASL-CLIF-C definition consisting of an acute increase in the bilirubin and/or INR, acute kidney injury, overt HE, hypertension, and hypoxia).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cognitive Function based on the Animal Naming Test (ANT)Baseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

The animal naming test assesses cognitive function. It is a timed test that that consists of participants listing as many unique animals as possible in 60 seconds. This is a validated test used for the assessment of hepatic encephalopathy. The score is the number of unique animals stated (higher is better).

Days-alive and out-of-the-hospitalBaseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

Days-alive and out-of-the-hospital is a continuous value, 1 for each day alive, 0 for days in hospital. Participants will be queried and data will also be abstracted from the Electronic Medical Record (EMR).

Injurious FallsBaseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

Falls include: Fracture, dislocation, cut, head injury, soft - tissue injury requiring hospitalization.

Non-Injurious FallsBaseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

Non- Injurious Falls include: Inadvertently coming to rest on the floor or lower level

Incident Overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE)Baseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

Incident Overt HE includes: Acute disorientation requiring hospitalization or the initiation of HE - directed therapy, confirmed by a gastroenterologist or study investigator.

Death/transplantBaseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

Mortality with any cause or liver transplantation

Incident of Liver TransplantBaseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

Replacement of a diseased liver with the healthy liver from another person.

Visual Analog Scale (VAS)Baseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

This is a 1-item global rating of health scored 0-100. A score of 100 means the best health and 0 means the worst health imagined.

Participant adherence12 weeks and 24 weeks

Adherence to lactulose, Tai-Chi, and nighttime protein supplementation will be monitored. Adherence is the proportion of expected-to-actual treatment days completed during the intervention.

Participant satisfaction with the trial and interventions based on the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)12 weeks and 24 weeks

Satisfaction with the trial will be assessed using the 6-item Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC). Participants select from Very much improved 1 - Very much worse 7. Lower scores indicate higher satisfaction.

The Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-29+2 v2.1Baseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

There are seven health domains including physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, ability to participate in social roles and activities, and pain interference. Each category consists of 4 questions. Questions are ranked on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores at times indicating better quality of life, and at other times indicating poorer quality of life. There is a pain rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating higher pain level.

Depression based on The Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-29+2 v2.1Baseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

There are 4 questions that participants complete regarding depression (never 1 - always 5). Scoring ranges (4-20) with higher scores indicating more depression.

Sleep quality based on the PROMIS-29+2 v2.1Baseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

There are 4 questions and are ranked on a 5-point Likert scale (not at all or very poor 1 - 5 very much). Scoring ranges (4-20) with lower scores indicating better sleep quality.

Physical frailty based on the Liver Frailty IndexBaseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

Physical frailty will be assessed with this index and is a composite of handgrip, timed chair-stands, and balance. The index ranges from -1.26 (robust) to 6.9 (frail), 50th percentile is 3.9. For individuals enrolled remotely, the study team will assess chair-stands.

Physical frailty based on the Activities of daily living (ADLs)Baseline to 24 weeks (following stage 2)

Activities of daily living (ADLs), is a validated self-reported measure (disability is defined as \>1 ADL deficit) recommended by the American Society for Transplantation and AASLD

Intervention Fidelity12 and 24 weeks

Evaluation of intervention fidelity will be assessed at 50% and 100% of study completion as percent delivery of key intervention components including coordinator trainings, lactulose prescriptions ordered, enhanced usual care components delivered, Short Message Service (SMS) assessments sent, study visits completed, and exercise sessions completed.

Short Form (SF) - 812 weeks and 24 weeks

The SF-8 is an abbreviated 8-item version of an original 36-item health survey (SF-36). It is a generic multipurpose quality of life instrument. It contains psychometrically based physical and mental health summary measures. The eight domains include general health, physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, mental health and role emotional. The scores range 8-40, with a lower score meaning higher function.

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

University of Michigan

🇺🇸

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

University of Pennsylvania

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Baylor Scott & White Research Institute (BSW)

🇺🇸

Dallas, Texas, United States

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