Effectiveness of a Diuretic Algorithm in Clinical Stability in Heart Failure Patients

April 20, 2020 updated by: Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

Effectiveness of a Diuretic Algorithm in Clinical Stability and Readmissions in Heart Failure Patients

One of the challenges in treating patients with heart failure (HF) is achieving clinical stability and reducing the hospital readmission rate. A diuretic dose adjustment algorithm developed in the United States (Diuretic Treatment Algorithm, DTA) and later validated for use in Brazil (as the Algoritmo de Ajuste de Diurético, AAD) has proved feasible and readily applicable, but its effect on clinical outcomes has yet to be assessed. This report aims to describe a randomized clinical trial protocol designed to assess the effectiveness of the AAD and of nonpharmacologic management in improving clinical stability and reducing the readmission rate at 90 days in patients with HF.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

A PROBE (prospective randomized open blinded endpoint) parallel-group design will be used. Adult patients with a diagnosis of reduced ejection fraction HF, who are being treated at a specialized HF clinic are being recruited. Those with indications for loop diuretic dose adjustment during routine clinic visits will be randomized to take part in the trial. Participants in the intervention group (IG) shall have their diuretic doses adjusted in accordance with the AAD and receive four telephone calls (one per week) over 30 days to reinforce guidance on nonpharmacological management (fluid and sodium restriction). Participants in the control group (CG) shall have their diuretic doses adjusted by a physician during the first trial visit and shall not receive any telephone calls. Patients in both groups shall return at 1 month for face-to-face reassessment. The study endpoints shall comprise readmission and/or emergency department visits due to HF decompensation within 90 days and clinical instability. All participants shall be required to have a scale at home (or easy access to one), a telephone number, agree to telephone-based follow-up, and be available to return for a 1-month trial visit. Overall, 135 patients are expected to be enrolled in each group.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

206

Phase

  • 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

  • Brazil
    • Rio Grande Do Sul
      • Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil, 90035 903
        • Hospital De Clinicas De Porto Alegre

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients of both genders
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Diagnosed with systolic HF
  • Able to monitor body weight at home
  • Using furosemide

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Those who are not able to make return visits or participate in telephone contact, and those on renal replacement therapy.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Control Group
In the control group, patients just diuretic adjusted (Furosemide 40 milligrams) by the doctor on the baseline. The patients do not receive phone calls neither advising on non-pharmacological treatment; The medication is adjusted by the doctor during the initial evaluation of study baseline.
Drug: Furosemide
This group received just diuretic adjusted (Furosemide 40 milligrams) by the doctor on the baseline.
Other Names:
  • Control Group
Experimental: Furosemide and Phone contact
The intervention group is conducted by a nurse in a systematic way during one time per week. If signs and symptoms of congestion, the dose of diuretic ( furosemide ) is revised , nonpharmacological guidelines are provided. According to the algorithm 1KG weight changes are indicative of modifying the diuretic dose , with the addition or reduction 1 tablet a day.
Drug: Furosemide and Phone contact
The intervention group is conducted by a nurse in a systematic way during one time per week. If signs and symptoms of congestion, the dose of diuretic ( furosemide ) is revised , nonpharmacological guidelines are provided. According to the algorithm 1KG weight changes are indicative of modifying the diuretic dose , with the addition or reduction 1 tablet a day (1 tablet equivalent to 40 milligrams of furosemide)
Other Names:
  • phone calls

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Compose outcome with readmission and/or emergency department visits due to HF decompensation within 90 days and clinical instability.
Time Frame: 90 days
90 days

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Eneida R Rabelo da Silva, ScD, HCPA and UFRGS

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)

May 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 17, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 20, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

February 21, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 22, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 20, 2020

Last Verified

April 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • GPPG/HCPA 10-0376

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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