Comparison of the Effect of Two Interventions on Liver Frailty Index in Pre-frail and Frail Cirrhotic Patients Enlisted for Liver Transplantation

November 27, 2023 updated by: Diego Reyes, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

The goal of this prospective, double blind randomized clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of two interventions in improve frailty (measured by Liver Frailty Index) and quality of life (measured by Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire - CLDQ) in listed patients with cirrhosis.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • if the intervention group (physical and nutritional therapy) could improve LFI over control group (physical and nutritional counseling).
  • if the intervention group could improve secondary outcomes as CLDQ, hand grip and gait velocity.

Participants will be evaluated in a registry of basal variables such as demographic factors, weight, height and brachial circumference, comorbidities, MELD and MELD-Na, Child Pugh classification, general blood exams, etiology of cirrhosis, presence of hepatocellular carcinoma, ascites, or hepatic encephalopathy and their basal LFI, gait velocity, hand grip and CLDQ. The participants will be randomized in an intervention group or in a control group at the same time of their first evaluation and will receive the group instructions depending on what group the participants belong, and will be evaluated at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks with applying LFI, measuring of gait velocity, hand grip and a nutritional survey with the intake in the last 24 hours. Finally, researchers will compare interventional group with control group if the first group could improve frailty, measured by Liver Frailty Index and the secondary outcomes with the nutritional and physical therapy.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Comparison of the effect of two interventions on Liver Frailty Index in pre-frail and frail cirrhotic patients enlisted for liver transplantation.

Frailty is a concept derived from geriatrics that translates a reduction in the physiological reserve of various organs and systems (immune, musculoskeletal, endocrine, neurological, etc.) and a greater vulnerability to stressors. It is present in up to one fifth of cirrhotic patients listed for liver transplantation and its determination has been independently related to adverse outcomes. On the other hand, it is closely linked to the concept of sarcopenia, which translates into a reduction of skeletal muscle mass and function. However, there is a proportion of frail patients who are not sarcopenic (patients with sarcopenia) and not all sarcopenic patients are frail so sarcopenia and frailty are not equivalent concepts, although both are related.

In cirrhosis, the presence of frailty and sarcopenia are conditions that may be determined by a multiplicity of factors such as the presence of hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyle, aging, endocrinological factors, hospitalizations, comorbidities, and also socioeconomic and environmental factors. Sarcopenia could be measured employing several methods. One of the most validated is the determination of the skeletal muscle index, which adjusts the area of skeletal muscle at L3 level by height. Thus, a woman is considered sarcopenic if she has an index lower than 39 cm2/m2 and, in men, when it is lower than 50 cm/m2. This index is related to the patient prognosis. Thus, according to this the survival of sarcopenic patients is always lower when adjusted for other variables, especially in women.

Nevertheless, sarcopenia fails to capture spheres that the concept of frailty consider and that influence the prognosis of patients even in the absence of sarcopenia. There is a multiplicity of instruments that allow to establish the diagnosis of frailty, some very simple and quick to perform, such as the Karnofsky scale (although it has a large subjective component) and others more complex and objective, although demanding in time and resources, such as the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Other tests evaluated are: Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP), 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Dynamometer Prehension Test (handgrip) or gait speed. The choice of the test to be performed should be based on the simplicity of the test, the need for available instruments, the determination of objective variables, reproducibility, cost, time available and the prognostic significance of the test.

A recent study conducted by our group evaluated the prognostic significance of the presence of frailty assessed by FFP. A total of 126 cirrhotic patients were included, 65.1% of whom were diagnosed as frail. The main etiologies were MAFLD (Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease), alcohol liver disease and hepatitis C virus infection. The mean age was 64±8.3 years, 47.6% were women, median MELD-Na 15[12-17] and median follow-up was 881 [349-1,277] days. Interestingly, mortality in frail patients was markedly higher than in robust patients i.e., 26.1% versus 5.9% at 12 months, 47.6% versus 12.0% at 24 months, and 68.2% versus 20.6% at 48 months, respectively (p < 0.001). Additionally, patients with reduced gait speed (less than or equal to 0.8 meters/second) also had higher mortality (32.8% versus 13.3% at 12 months, 58.9% versus 26.2% at 24 months, and 79.9% versus 40.8% at 48 months respectively; p < 0.001). Moreover, multivariate analysis showed that the presence of frailty and low gait speed were related to mortality independent of liver function. Thus, the presence of frailty conferred an increased risk of death with any degree of liver dysfunction.

In the study, FFP was used because it meets the requirements and it had a significant experience in other similar studies. Nonetheless, it would be of greater interest to apply a test specifically designed for patients with chronic liver disease and that adjusts to their peculiarities.

The Liver Frailty Index (LFI) is a test developed to be used specifically in patients with cirrhosis, evaluates objective variables, requires simple instruments, is reproducible, widely available and requires few time to be performed. In addition, it predicts the survival of listed patients. The LFI includes the measurement of prehension strength, a squat test (time required to perform 5 squats) and a balance test with parallel, semi-tandem and tandem feet and provides a score (continuous variable). Thus, when the score is less than 3.2 patients are considered robust, if it is 3.2 to 4.4 the participants are considered pre-fragile and if it is 4.5 or more patients are considered fragile.

Recently, the LFI was used in a randomized controlled trial in cirrhotic patients comparing the use of an exercise program versus standard medical care. Although the trial was negative possibly due to low patient adherence, the use of LFI allowed objective assessment of patient progress and the effect of the intervention without using subjective variables and with a test specifically designed for patients with cirrhosis.

It is interesting to note that current studies have attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to improve frailty in patients with cirrhosis without discriminating those who are frail or pre-frail from those who are robust. Thus, it is not possible to really know what proportion of the patients included were non-robust and if the interventions are effective in the specific subgroup of patients.

Therefore, a trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention consisting of physical and nutritional therapy compared to physical and nutritional counseling over a 12-week period. Unlike the previously described studies, this study will only enroll pre-fragile and frail patients according to the LFI.

This is a randomized trial which will attempt to evaluate if there is a difference between an intervention that corresponds to our standard behavior but intensified in terms of providing very detailed information and periodic reinforcement and another intervention that will consist of personalized physical training associated with nutritional assistance directed to the specific patient and with periodic consultations.

The potential results of this study will be interesting considering that if any of the interventions is superior it should prefer it, but if both are similar, the most cost effective one should be choose.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

80

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 Contact

Study Locations

  • Chile
    • Metropolitana
      • Santiago, Metropolitana, Chile
        • Recruiting
        • Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
        • Contact:
          • Diego Reyes, Dr

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Presence of cirrhosis.
  2. Over 50 years old.
  3. Liver Frailty Index of 3.2 points or more.
  4. Ability to follow instructions.
  5. Ability to consent to study entry.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Grade 3 or 4 hepatic encephalopathy.
  2. Untreated HIV infection.
  3. Previous liver transplant.
  4. Inability to walk.
  5. Extrahepatic diseases that limit mobility (e.g., neurological or musculoskeletal).
  6. Advanced cardiac, renal or pulmonary disease.
  7. Expectation of being transplanted during the study period.
  8. Hepatocarcinoma (HCC) exceeding the Milan criteria.

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: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control group
The control group will receive written, detailed, and standardized instructions on nutritional recommendations and physical activity at visit 1. Patients will have follow-up evaluations by a physician to reinforce adherence and make necessary adjustments for compliance with nutritional requirements. Nutritional intake reminder surveys will be conducted during the last 24 hours (E24H) at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12.
Experimental: Intervention group
Intervention group consisting of physical therapy guided by a kinesiologist for 10 sessions during which the patient will be trained to maintain physical activity three times a week. In addition, patients will be evaluated by a nutritionist who will give specific indications regarding the quality, quantity, and timing of food intake, as well as the daily frequency of food consumption. Patients will have two follow-ups by a nutritionist (week 4 and 8) to check adherence and make the necessary adjustments to meet nutritional requirements. Nutritional intake reminder surveys will be conducted during the last 24 hours (E24H) at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12.)
Other: Physical and nutritional therapy
The patients will be evaluated and followed by a nutritionist and a physical therapist for 12 weeks. In that time, the patients will receive workouts according to their evaluations and a specific nutritional guide according to the nutritionist's evaluations.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Liver Frailty Index
Time Frame: 12 weeks
The Liver Frailty Index (LFI) is a test developed to be used specifically in patients with cirrhosis, evaluates objective variables, requires simple instruments, is reproducible, widely available and requires few time to be performed. In addition, it predicts the survival of listed patients.
12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Test to evaluate the quality of life in cirrhotic patients.
12 weeks
Gait velocity
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Velocity of the gait of the cirrhotic patients with a walking speed test in four meters
12 weeks
Hand grip
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measure of the hand grip with a dynamometer. The prehension strength recorded is the average of 3 prehension attempts with maximal strength.
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

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)

February 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2023

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 17, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 27, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

November 28, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 28, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 27, 2023

Last Verified

November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • FrailtyRCT

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The plan will be to share the information of the protocol, the statistical analysis that the investigators will do with the data and the way of measuring the outcomes and the characteristics of the participants with their demographic data and the description of the data related with their comorbidities and cirrhosis. In a supplementary material, the investigators will add the informed consent form.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

The data will become available when the study will be published in a journal in a supplementary material.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The access will be defined by the journal.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

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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