The TARGET-EFT Randomized Clinical Trial (TARGET-EFT)

March 17, 2022 updated by: Jonathan Afilalo

The TARGET-EFT Trial (MulTicomponent Acute Intervention in FRail GEriatric PaTients With Cardiovascular Disease Using the Essential Frailty Toolset)

Randomized clinical trial to determine whether a multicomponent intervention will lead to improvements in mobility, self-care, mood, pain, and physical activity among frail and pre-frail older adults (as measured with the Essential Frailty Toolset; EFT) hospitalized for an acute cardiovascular illness.

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

The investigators will conduct a single-center randomized clinical trial at the Jewish General Hospital; an academic tertiary care center in Montreal, Quebec. Researchers will pre-screen stable patients ≥65 years of age admitted to the cardiovascular unit. The investigators will target those that consent and have evidence of frailty or pre-frailty according to the EFT (score ≥1/5). The EFT consists of a chair rise test to screen for physical frailty, a mini-cog test to screen for cognitive impairment, a hemoglobin level and a serum albumin level. Patients will be randomly allocated to the usual-care control group, or the intervention group that will receive targeted treatments depending on the EFT deficits identified. All patients will be outfitted with a hip-worn accelerometer to monitor position, step count, and sleep data during the study period. Patients will undergo a structured questionnaire and physical performance assessment at baseline (upon index admission) and at discharge, and will be contacted by telephone 30 days post-discharge to assess their recovery. The primary endpoint will be represented by the EQ-5D scale (mobility, self-care, mood, pain, and physical activity) measured by blinded observers.

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.
144

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

  • Canada
    • Quebec
      • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3T1E2
        • Jewish General Hospital

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
  • Frail or pre-frail as defined by EFT score ≥1
  • Admission to the JGH cardiovascular unit
  • Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Expected discharge within <3 days
  • Clinically unstable (unstable vital signs, low-threshold coronary ischemia, uncontrolled heart failure, uncontrolled arrhythmia)
  • Awaiting cardiac surgery during the index hospitalization
  • Severe dementia (MMSE ≤10/30)
  • Delirium (CAM positive)
  • Psychiatric condition precluding cooperation
  • Not English or French speaking
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Recent stroke <7 days
  • Bed-bound or paraplegic
  • End-of-life care plan

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • 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.
No Intervention: Control Group
Usual clinical care as prescribed by their treating clinicians; which may or may not include physiotherapy, geriatric consultation, nutritional consultation and supplementation, and treatment of anemia.
Experimental: Intervention Group
Multi-component intervention in addition to usual care; which may include - in a targeted fashion - physical training for those with physical weakness, cognitive stimulation for those with cognitive impairment, oral nutritional supplementation for those with malnutrition, and intravenous iron replacement therapy for those with iron deficiency anemia.
Other: Physical Component of the Intervention
We will encourage and assist patients to walk around the ward as tolerated and approved by their treating clinicians, to maximize the time spent out of bed, minimize the time spent in bed, and to encourage and assist them to perform chair rises to build lower extremity strength. For selected intervention patients with greater physical weakness, defined as SPPB ≤9, a Certified Exercise Physiologist will administer a supervised multicomponent exercise program combining strength, flexibility, balance and gait for the prevention of weakness and falls. The exercise program is adapted from the Vivifrail program which is an EU-funded initiative that provides a guide to prevent frailty, physical deconditioning, and incident disability in older persons. The program includes two daily sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, for a duration of 20 minutes each. The morning session includes strength and flexibility exercises. The afternoon session targets balance and walking.
Other: Cognitive Component of the Intervention
We will encourage and assist them to wear their hearing and visual aids (if they have these), orient them to time and place verbally and in writing on a clearly visible white-board in their hospital room - and also encourage their family members and caregivers to do so on a regular basis, and inquire about their sleep quality and communicate with the clinical team to reduce sleep disturbances. For selected intervention patients with greater cognitive impairments, defined as MMSE ≤26, we will provide cognitive simulation twice daily during the scheduled visits. Cognitive stimulation comprises of activities with the patient, including but not limited to current news, trivia, crossword puzzles, and memory games. These cognitive interventions are adapted from the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) that targets risk factors for delirium.
Other: Nutritional Component of the Intervention
We will reinforce proper eating habits, encourage and assist patients to wear their dentures (if they have these), and inquire about their food preferences and eating barriers and communicate with the clinical dieticians to address these issues. For selected intervention patients with greater nutritional deficits, defined as a positive PONS, we will recommend to the treating clinicians to prescribe MedPass supplementation. PONS, developed as a preoperative screening tool but also used in nonoperative medical settings, reflects low body mass index, weight loss, low dietary intake, and albumin level. MedPass is a 60 mL calorically dense (2 kcal/mL) oral nutritional supplement consumed between meals 4 times per daily. If MedPass supplementation is contraindicated, the treating team will have the full discretion not to prescribe it and/or to consider alternative supplementation strategies.
Other: Iron-Deficiency Anemia (IDA) Component of the Intervention
We will verify their clinical blood test results for hemoglobin level and iron studies and apply the diagnostic criteria for iron deficiency as recommended by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for Heart Failure. These criteria are: (i) Hemoglobin <130g/L in men or <120g/L in women with (ii) a Ferritin <100μg/L or a Ferritin <300μg/L with a Saturation <20%. For selected intervention patients with diagnosed iron deficiency anemia, according to these established criteria, we will recommend to the treating clinicians to prescribe Venofer intravenous iron replacement therapy. The use of intravenous iron replacement therapy is a Strong Recommendation in the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines. Venofer is prescribed at a dosage of 300 mg IV daily for a total of 3 doses. If Venofer supplementation is contraindicated, the treating team will have the full discretion not to prescribe it and/or to consider alternative strategies.

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
Change in health-related quality of life: EQ-5D-5L scale
Time Frame: Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Self-reported health-related quality of life is measured with EQ-5D at baseline and discharge. Items are scored level 1-5 (1 = no problems, 5 = unable/extreme problems). The visual analog scale is scored 0-100 (0 = worse imaginable health ever, 100 = best imaginable health ever). The scale generates a descriptive set that is compared to value sets to produce a value index.
Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)

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
Change in health-related quality of life: EQ-5D-5L scale
Time Frame: From date of hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks) to 30-days post-discharge (assessed up to 10 weeks)
Self-reported health-related quality of life is measured with EQ-5D at 30-days post-hospitalization. Items are scored level 1-5 (1 = no problems, 5 = unable/extreme problems). The visual analog scale is scored 0-100 (0 = worse imaginable health ever, 100 = best imaginable health ever). The scale generates a descriptive set that is compared to value sets to produce a value index.
From date of hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks) to 30-days post-discharge (assessed up to 10 weeks)
Change in Hospital-Acquired disability
Time Frame: Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Hospital-acquired disability will be measured using the Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale. ADLs will be assessed at baseline and discharge. Each item is scored 1-3 (1 = without help, 3 = completely unable to), yielding a total score of 0-7.
Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Hospital-acquired disability
Time Frame: From date of hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks) to 30-days post-discharge (assessed up to 10 weeks)
Hospital-acquired disability will be measured using the Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale. ADLs will be assessed at 30-days post-hospitalization. Each item is scored 1-3 (1 = without help, 3 = completely unable to), yielding a total score of 0-7.
From date of hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks) to 30-days post-discharge (assessed up to 10 weeks)
Number of participants with all-cause death, delirium, fall, infection, pressure ulcer
Time Frame: Date of randomization until date of first documented progression of all-cause death, delirium, fall, infection, pressure ulcer assessed up to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Composite endpoint
Date of randomization until date of first documented progression of all-cause death, delirium, fall, infection, pressure ulcer assessed up to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Number of participants with all-cause death, discharge to healthcare facility, unplanned repeat hospital visit
Time Frame: Date of hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks) until date of first documented progression of all-cause death, discharge to healthcare facility, unplanned repeat hospital visit assessed up to 30-days from hospital discharge
Composite endpoint
Date of hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks) until date of first documented progression of all-cause death, discharge to healthcare facility, unplanned repeat hospital visit assessed up to 30-days from hospital discharge
Length of stay
Time Frame: Date of cardiovascular unit admission to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Number of days from cardiovascular unit admission to hospital discharge.
Date of cardiovascular unit admission to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Time out of bed
Time Frame: Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Average number of hours per day out of bed recorded by actigraphy
Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Lower extremity physical performance
Time Frame: Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Lower extremity weakness will be assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery scale (SPPB) at baseline and discharge. SPPB is scored 0-12 (0 = worst physical performance, 12 = best physical performance).
Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)

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
Frailty
Time Frame: Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Frailty will be assessed using the Essential Frailty Toolset (EFT) scale during hospital stay. Each item is scored from 0-2 points, yielding a total score of points 0-5.
Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Frailty
Time Frame: From date of hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks) to 30-days post-discharge (assessed up to 10 weeks)
Sarcopenia will be assessed with the SARC-F scale at 30 days post-hospital discharge. Each item is scored 0-2 (0 = none, 2 = a lot or unable), yielding a total score of 0-10.
From date of hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks) to 30-days post-discharge (assessed up to 10 weeks)
Mobility
Time Frame: Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Mobility during hospital stay will be measured using the Level of Function (LOF) scale. LOF is scored level 0-5 (0 = not responsive, not able to cooperate in care and is bed-bound, 5 = able to tolerate increased distances in walking around the unit).
Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Change in skeletal muscle mass
Time Frame: Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Skeletal muscle mass will be measured using a portable bioimpedance and/or ultrasound devices at baseline and discharge.
Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Step counts
Time Frame: Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Physical activity will be measured during the hospital stay. Average number of steps per day are recorded by actigraphy.
Date of randomization to hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Anxiety and depression
Time Frame: Hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)
Self-reported hospital anxiety and depression will be measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at discharge. Items scored 0-3 (0 = no sign of anxiety/depression, 3 = signs of extreme anxiety/depression), yielding a total score of 0-21 for anxiety and depression.
Hospital discharge (assessed up to 6-weeks)

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.
Jonathan Afilalo

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jonathan Afilalo, MD, MSc, Jewish General Hospital

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.
March 5, 2020

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.
September 24, 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.
September 24, 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).
January 9, 2020

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.
February 28, 2020

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.
March 2, 2020

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.
March 31, 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.
March 17, 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.
March 1, 2022

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.
  • TARGET-EFT 2020-2077

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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