Graft-first Versus Fistula-first in Older Patients With End-stage Kidney Disease (GEMSSTAR)

October 27, 2022 updated by: Wake Forest University Health Sciences

A Randomized Pilot Study Comparing Graft-first to Fistula-first Strategies in Older Patients With Incident End-stage Kidney Disease

Many older adults require hemodialysis for advanced chronic kidney disease, but it is not clear which permanent vascular access method (fistula or graft) is best with respect to access effectiveness and patient satisfaction. In this pilot study, the study team will test the hypothesis that older adults undergoing graft access placement will more effectively transition from catheter-based to arteriovenous access-based hemodialysis; have fewer following vascular access procedures; have better upper extremity function; have better self-sufficiency with daily activities; and better health-related quality of life compared to those who undergo arteriovenous fistula access placement. The study will establish feasibility of randomizing older adults to the two types of arteriovenous access surgeries; evaluate relationships between measurements of pre-operative physical function and vascular access development; compare vascular access outcomes between the two groups; and gather longitudinal assessments of upper extremity muscle strength, performance of activities of daily living, and patients' reports of satisfaction with their vascular access and quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Each year, more than 600,000 people in the United States receive life-saving hemodialysis (HD) treatments for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), a third of whom are older adults.Timely placement of an arteriovenous (AV) vascular access (native AV fistula [AVF] or prosthetic AV graft [AVG]) is necessary to avoid (or limit) the use of tunneled central venous catheters (TCVC) for HD. 'Fistula First Catheter Last' national guidelines require placement of AVF as the AV access of first choice in all patients to achieve better patient survival. However, the benefits of AVF over AVG are least certain in older adults, as age-related biological changes independently modulate patient outcomes. Nationally representative cohort studies of older adults with incident ESKD have shown similar patient survival between those whose first AV access placed or used was a fistula or a graft.Compared with grafts, fistulas fail more often and necessitate longer times and more subsequent procedures to aid development, exposing older patients to time-consuming procedures that may negatively affect upper extremity strength and erode their quality of life. The contribution of pre-operative physical function to AV access outcomes and the impact of AV access placement on upper extremity strength and self-sufficiency have not been evaluated. This pilot trial will involve older adults with pre-dialysis advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) or incident ESKD using a TCVC for HD who had no prior AV access surgery and have upper extremity vasculature suitable for either fistula or graft placement. Participants will be randomized to receive an upper extremity AVF-first or AVG-first access for HD. The primary objective of this pilot trial is to prospectively evaluate patient and vascular access outcomes in a randomized intervention and in a patient population in whom fistula-first guidelines have been applied despite the lack of proven benefit and at the detriment of more access failures and procedures.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
44

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27157
        • Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years and older (OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥ 65 years
  • End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on chronic hemodialysis (HD)
  • Tunneled central venous catheter (TCVC) is the sole vascular access used for HD
  • Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) expected to require HD initiation within 90 days of screening and deemed medically necessary by the treating nephrologist to proceed with arteriovenous (AV) access placement in preparation for HD initiation
  • Did not undergo AV access placement in the past
  • Medically eligible to receive AV fistula (AVF) or AV graft (AVG) placement as deemed by the treating nephrologist
  • Surgically eligible to receive either an AVF or an AVG as deemed by the vascular surgeon
  • HD is the intended long-term modality of treatment for ESKD
  • Planning to remain within Wake Forest provided health care for at least 12 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of an AVF or AVG
  • Previous attempt(s) for AV vascular access placement
  • Native vasculature not suitable for placement of AV access
  • Imminent transplant planned (within 6 months)
  • Anticipated life expectancy <9 months

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: OTHER
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: SINGLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
EXPERIMENTAL: Upper extremity arteriovenous graft (AVG) - first
Participants randomized to receive an AVG will undergo surgery to have an AVG placed.
Procedure: Upper arm arteriovenous graft surgery
Creation of arteriovenous graft vascular access for hemodialysis
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Upper extremity arteriovenous fistula (AVF) - first
Participants randomized to receive an AVF will undergo surgery to have an AVF created.
Procedure: Upper arm arteriovenous fistula surgery
Creation of arteriovenous fistula vascular access for hemodialysis

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Feasibility- Eligibility for Randomization
Time Frame: 12 months
Proportion of screened participants deemed eligible for randomization.
12 months
Feasibility- Consent to Randomization
Time Frame: 12 months
Proportion of eligible participants who consent to randomization.
12 months
Feasibility- AV Graft or Fistula Placement
Time Frame: Day 90
Proportion of participants who undergo AV graft or fistula placement within 90 days of randomization.
Day 90

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Upper Extremity Strength
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months
The grip-strength test will be performed twice on each hand for each assessment and the mean of the two results will be used for statistical analyses; a cut-off point <16 kg in women and <26 kg in men will define muscle weakness. Changes in grip strength will be compared between the two access interventions. Assessed with upper arm grip-strength test in each arm using a hand-held dynamometer.
3 and 6 months
Patient Satisfaction With Vascular Access
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months
Vascular access questionnaire will be used to assess differences in patient satisfaction with vascular access between the two access interventions using the short-form vascular access questionnaire (SF-VAQ). Mean scores obtained on SF-VAQ will be compared. SF-VAQ score range 4 -20 with higher scores indicating more satisfaction with the vascular access.
3 and 6 months
Performance on Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months
The level of independence will be evaluated using ADLs. ADL score range 0-30, with higher scores denoting more dependence on other people to perform the usual daily activities.
Baseline and 6 months
Performance on Activities of Instrumental Daily Living ADLs (IADLs)
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 and 6 months
The level of independence will be evaluated using IADLs instruments. ADL score range 0-31, with higher scores denoting more dependence on other people.
Baseline, 3 and 6 months
Depression
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months
Depression scores assessed with the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) will be compared between the two vascular access arms. PHQ-9 score range 0-27. Depression Severity: 0-4 none, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe, 20-27 severe.
3 and 6 months
Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) - Mental Health (MCS-12) Scores
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6
The impact of the two types of vascular access on HRQoL will be assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF) version 1.3. which consists of a generic core (Short Form-36 [SF-36]) and an 11-item kidney disease-specific scale. Score range 0 to 100, with higher scores reflecting better quality of life.
Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6
Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) - Physical Health (PCS-12) Scores
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months
The impact of the two types of vascular access on HRQoL will be assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF) version 1.3. which consists of a generic core (Short Form-36 [SF-36]) and an 11-item kidney disease-specific scale. Score range 0 to 100, with higher scores reflecting better quality of life.
3 and 6 months
Physical Activity Level
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months
The Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) instrument will be used to assess habitual physical activity. RAPA test score ≤ 3 corresponded to a sedentary lifestyle or a very light activity level; values ≥4 indicated a moderate to vigorous active lifestyle.
3 and 6 months
Physical Activity Level 4-meter Gait
Time Frame: Baseline, month 3 and 6
The 4MGS test is a simple screening test and a useful predictor of worsening daily activity in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
Baseline, month 3 and 6
Number of Subjects With No Pain at the AV Access Site
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 and 6 months
This will be determined by using the Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS). The Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS) is comprised of a series of descriptive phrases that refer to different levels of pain severity or intensity. Patients select the phrase that best describes their current pain - The verbal descriptor scale asks the patient to describe her or his pain using the following descriptors: "no pain," "mild pain," "moderate pain," "severe pain," or "pain as bad as it could be."
Baseline, 3 and 6 months
Number of Subjects With Mild Pain at the AV Access Site
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6
This will be determined by using the Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS). The Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS) is comprised of a series of descriptive phrases that refer to different levels of pain severity or intensity. Patients select the phrase that best describes their current pain - The verbal descriptor scale asks the patient to describe her or his pain using the following descriptors: "no pain," "mild pain," "moderate pain," "severe pain," or "pain as bad as it could be."
Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6
Number of Subject With Moderate Pain at the AV Access Site
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6
This will be determined by using the Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS). The Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS) is comprised of a series of descriptive phrases that refer to different levels of pain severity or intensity. Patients select the phrase that best describes their current pain - The verbal descriptor scale asks the patient to describe her or his pain using the following descriptors: "no pain," "mild pain," "moderate pain," "severe pain," or "pain as bad as it could be."
Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6
Number of Subjects With Severe Pain at the AV Access Site
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6
This will be determined by using the Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS). The Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS) is comprised of a series of descriptive phrases that refer to different levels of pain severity or intensity. Patients select the phrase that best describes their current pain - The verbal descriptor scale asks the patient to describe her or his pain using the following descriptors: "no pain," "mild pain," "moderate pain," "severe pain," or "pain as bad as it could be."
Baseline, Month 3 and Month 6

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
AV Access Primary Failure
Time Frame: 6 months
Rate of AV access primary failure between the two AV access strategies. Primary access failure is defined as permanent failure of the fistula or graft before hemodialysis suitability. This will include inadequate maturation, thrombosis, failure of first and subsequent cannulations, and/or other complications leading to nonfunctional fistula or graft.
6 months
AV Access Infection
Time Frame: 12 months
Incidence rate of AV access infection between the two AV access strategies. This will include fistula or graft cellulitis, abscess, and/or bacteremia due to AV access infection.
12 months
AV Access Successful Cannulation
Time Frame: 6 months
Will compare the proportion of patients with successful AV access cannulation between the two AV access strategies. Successful cannulation is defined by the use of the AV access as the primary vascular access for hemodialysis (the fistula or graft access has been cannulated with two 16- or 15-gauge needles for ≥3 consecutive dialysis sessions and the dialysis central venous catheter was removed).
6 months
AV Access Secondary Failure
Time Frame: 12 months
Rate of AV access secondary failure between the two AV access strategies. Secondary access failure is defined by permanent AV access failure after the fistula or graft met dialysis suitability criteria with subsequent abandonment.
12 months
AV Access Procedures - Number of Surgical Re-intervention on Index AV Access Procedures
Time Frame: 12 months
Number of AV access procedures per 100 patient-days between the two AV access strategies. This will include angioplasty, thrombectomy, stent placement, repeat surgery, and/or surgical superficialization.
12 months
AV Access Procedures - Number of Endovascular Interventions on Index AV Procedures Access
Time Frame: 12 months
Number of AV access procedures per 100 patient-days between the two AV access strategies. This will include angioplasty, thrombectomy, stent placement, repeat surgery, and/or surgical superficialization.
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ACTUAL)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 4, 2018

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 22, 2021

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 22, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 3, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 31, 2018

First Posted (ACTUAL)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 4, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 21, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 27, 2022

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00050577
  • R03AG060178-02 (NIH)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data that underlie the results obtained in the pilot trial, deidentified.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following the first article publication that stems from this pilot trial.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal and whose proposed use of data has been approved by an independent review party identified for this purpose.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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