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Patient Empowered Strategy to Reduce Asthma Morbidity in Highly Impacted Populations; PeRson EmPowered Asthma RElief

Patient Empowered Strategy to Reduce Asthma Morbidity in Highly Impacted Populations

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02995733
Acronym
PREPARE
Enrollment
1220
Registered
2016-12-16
Start date
2017-11-27
Completion date
2021-04-30
Last updated
2023-01-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Asthma

Keywords

asthma, African Americans, Hispanics

Brief summary

Asthma imposes a significant burden in the US in terms of morbidity, costs to society, individual suffering, loss of productivity and mortality. African Americans (AA) and Hispanic/Latinos (H/L) bear a disproportionate share of that morbidity. Despite national guidelines for asthma treatment, the gap between these groups and whites has been stable or widening. The need for pragmatic research to address the continuing burden is widely recognized. Patients use asthma reliever inhalers to provide immediate relief of symptoms. Controller inhalers (inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)) are intended to be used regularly to prevent symptoms and attacks. Guidelines suggest that they be used daily, on a fixed basis, in all but the mildest asthma. However, adherence by patients and implementation of evidence-based guideline recommendations by clinicians has been poor. Gap analysis suggests that it is difficult to improve adherence to the current recommendations without complex and resource-intensive interventions. Studies have examined symptom-activated use of ICS triggered by use of a reliever medication. The Investigators call this approach PARTICS - Patient Activated Reliever-Triggered Inhaled CorticoSteroid. Explanatory, non-real world studies suggest that PARTICS can produce up to 50% reductions in asthma attacks compared with usual care, while reducing ICS use by half or more. These studies have been performed in pre-selected populations, which represent less than 5% of asthma patients. The previous studies have been done with repeated education and adherence checks in both the intervention and control arms. The investigators have consulted with AA and H/L patients, health care providers, leaders of professional societies, advocacy groups, health policy leaders, pharmacists, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. All groups have indicated that asthma decision making would be changed if we demonstrated that implementing PARTICS improves important asthma outcomes such as reducing exacerbations. The Investigators have designed a study with the stakeholders to determine whether PARTICS can improve outcomes that are important to patients when superimposed on a background provider-educated standard of care through the Asthma IQ system. The Investigators propose a study entitled PREPARE: Patient Empowered Strategy to Reduce Asthma Morbidity in Highly Impacted Populations. The Investigators aim to determine whether PARTICS can reduce asthma morbidity in AA and H/L.

Detailed description

Asthma imposes a significant burden on the US population in terms of morbidity, costs to society, individual suffering, loss of productivity and mortality. African Americans (AA) and Hispanic/Latinos (H/L) bear a disproportionate share of that morbidity. Despite introduction of national guidelines for asthma treatment, the gap between these groups and whites has been stable or widening. The need for pragmatic research to address the continuing burden is widely recognized. Patients use asthma reliever inhalers to provide immediate relief of symptoms. Controller inhalers (inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)) are intended to be used regularly to prevent symptoms and attacks. Guidelines suggest that they be used daily, on a fixed basis, in all but the mildest asthma. However, adherence by patients and implementation of evidence-based guideline recommendations by clinicians has been poor. Gap analysis suggests that it is difficult to improve adherence to the current recommendations without complex and resource-intensive interventions. Studies have examined symptom-activated use of ICS triggered by use of a reliever medication. We call this approach PARTICS - Patient Activated Reliever-Triggered Inhaled CorticoSteroid. Explanatory, non-real world studies suggest that PARTICS can produce up to 50% reductions in asthma attacks compared with usual care, while reducing ICS use by half or more. However, these studies have been performed in pre- selected populations, which represent less than 5% of patients with asthma. They have been done with repeated education and adherence checks in both the intervention and control arms. The investigators have consulted with AA and H/L patients, health care providers, leaders of professional societies, advocacy groups, health policy leaders, pharmacists, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. All groups have indicated that asthma decision making would be changed if it was demonstrated that implementing PARTICS improves important asthma outcomes such as reducing rates of exacerbations. Together with our partners and stakeholders, the investigators have designed a study to determine whether PARTICS can improve outcomes that are important to patients when superimposed on a background provider-educated standard care through the Asthma IQ system. The investigators therefore propose a study entitled PREPARE: Patient Empowered Strategy to Reduce Asthma Morbidity in Highly Impacted Populations. The aim is to determine whether a PARTICS strategy can reduce asthma morbidity in AA and H/L. The primary outcome will be asthma exacerbations which have been shown to be important to patient and healthcare stakeholders. The secondary outcomes will include additional outcomes important to patients (i.e. days lost from work or school, asthma control, & asthma quality of life). The investigators have broad input and involvement from multiple stakeholder groups in study design, implementation, and commitments for dissemination. AA and H/L patients and their advocates have been involved and will continue to play a central role in all phases of the study.

Interventions

DRUGPARTICS using QVAR

Patient takes inhaled corticosteroid at the time of rescue inhaler use

Sponsors

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
CollaboratorOTHER
American Academy of Family Physicians
CollaboratorOTHER
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Black or Hispanic based on self-identification (Hispanic if identify as both) * Male and female, ages 18-75 years * Ability to provide informed consent * Clinical history consistent with asthma for \> 1 year. * Prescribed ICS as daily maintenance therapy * Participant must also have an ACT score of 19 or less, or a history of one or more exacerbations in the past year that required patient report of systemic corticosteroid use.

Exclusion criteria

* Life expectancy less than one year * Known allergy to the ICS inhaler used in the study * Having COPD or other chronic lung disease other than asthma; with the exception of the following: * Dx of COPD in a never smoker without any other lung disease or any other disease that might cause airway obstruction such as: Cystic Fibrosis, Connective Tissue Disease, premature birth, organ transplantation, bronchiectasis, sarcoid, and obliterative bronchiolitis * Dx of COPD in former smoker with normal PFTs done after the person quit smoking * Dx of COPD in current smoker with normal PFTs done in past 24 months * Dx of COPD IN CURRENT OR FORMER SMOKER with obstruction on PFTs: normal diffusing capacity in past 24 months and demonstrated reversibility of 12% or more at any time * Regular systemic corticosteroid use daily or every other day for any reason-including asthma or other medical reasons * Use of systemic corticosteroid, or visit to the doctor's office, emergency department (ED) or urgent care, or overnight hospitalization for an asthma exacerbation in the past month (can wait and re-check eligibility after one month) * Use of biologics (injections or infusion medicines): with the exception of the following: * the patient has been on a stable dose of a biologic for at least 6 months and, * must have had an exacerbation at least 2 months after starting on a biologic to be considered eligible OR * must have a current ACT score \<=19 to be considered eligible. * Bronchial thermoplasty less than 6 months ago (can re-check eligibility 6 months after procedure) * Another family member living in the same household already enrolled in study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of Asthma Exacerbations Per Yearmonthly through study completion an average of 15 monthsOur primary outcome, the rate of asthma exacerbations per year, is defined as the number of exacerbations, emergency room visits, or hospitalizations requiring oral or parenteral corticosteroids, per patient per year

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Asthma Control: Asthma Control Test (ACT) Score, Least-squares Mean Change From BaselineMonthly through study completion an average of 15 monthsAsthma control represents the degree to which impairment (impact of asthma on patient's daily life) is minimized and the goals of therapy are met. The Asthma Control Test is a participant-administered tool for assessing the level of asthma control. Total scores range from 5 to 25, with a score of 20 to 25 indicating well-controlled asthma, a score of 16 to 19 indicating asthma that was not well controlled, and a score of 5 to 15 indicating very poorly controlled asthma. The minimal clinically important difference is 3 points
Preference Based Quality of Life: Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI), Least-squares Mean Change From BaselineMonthly through study completion an average of 15 monthsThe ideal outcome measure for any comparative effectiveness analysis captures the risks and benefits for each of the interventions from the patient's point of view. The use of a preference-based instrument, the Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI), captures this important information. The Asthma Symptom Utility Index is a participant-administered tool for assessing preference-based quality of life. Scores range from 0 (worst possible symptoms) to 1 (no symptoms). The minimal clinically important difference is 0.09.
Days Per Year Lost From Work or School/ Days Unable to Carry Out Usual Activities Due to AsthmaMonthly through study completion an average of 15 monthsDefined as days not able to work or go to school because of asthma symptoms OR days not able to carry out usual activities due to asthma

Countries

Puerto Rico, United States

Participant flow

Pre-assignment details

1220 participants were enrolled, however, 19 participants were not followed and were dropped from analysis due to the site closure. They were not included in the primary analyses but were included in safety reporting. Two sites were enrolling simultaneously and there was one additional participant enrolled accidentally.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
PARTICS
addition of PARTICS strategy - Patient Activated Reliever-Triggered Inhaled CorticoSteroid (PARTICS) using QVAR . Patient will use inhaled corticosteroid at time of rescue inhaler use PARTICS using QVAR: Patient takes inhaled corticosteroid at the time of rescue inhaler use
600
Usual Care
Provider-enhanced usual care arm; no change in asthma management
601
Total1,201

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyDeath34
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up4837
Overall StudyOther01
Overall StudyRemoved by study team due to inappropriate behavior10
Overall StudyStudy site closed910
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject62

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicUsual CareTotalPARTICS
Absolute eosinophil count250.1 cells/μL
STANDARD_DEVIATION 247.48
247.8 cells/μL
STANDARD_DEVIATION 238.47
188 cells/μL
Absolute eosinophil count ≥300 cells/μL137 Participants265 Participants128 Participants
Age, Continuous47.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.9
47.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.7
48.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.5
Asthma Control Test score14.5 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.5
14.6 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.4
14.7 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.4
Asthma Symptom Utility Index score0.67 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.21
0.67 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.21
0.67 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.22
Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2)35.1 kilograms per meters squared
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.5
35.1 kilograms per meters squared
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.3
35.2 kilograms per meters squared
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.1
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)30.4 ppb
STANDARD_DEVIATION 34.9
28.6 ppb
STANDARD_DEVIATION 31.6
26.7 ppb
STANDARD_DEVIATION 27.8
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), ≥30 ppb154 Participants302 Participants148 Participants
History of ≥1 asthma exacerbation in past year427 Participants867 Participants440 Participants
Low or marginal health literacy100 Participants201 Participants101 Participants
Maintenance asthma medications: Biologic agent19 Participants36 Participants17 Participants
Maintenance asthma medications: Combination inhaled glucocorticoid with long-acting beta-agonist431 Participants859 Participants428 Participants
Maintenance asthma medications: Inhaled glucocorticoid without long-acting beta-agonist169 Participants340 Participants171 Participants
Maintenance asthma medications: Leukotriene-receptor antagonist290 Participants598 Participants308 Participants
Maintenance asthma medications: Long-acting muscarinic antagonist79 Participants143 Participants64 Participants
Medication Adherence Report Scale-5 score4.2 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.8
4.2 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.8
4.2 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.8
Nonsmoker or former smoker in smoking environment107 Participants203 Participants96 Participants
Number of coexisting conditions
0
191 Participants357 Participants166 Participants
Number of coexisting conditions
1
126 Participants276 Participants150 Participants
Number of coexisting conditions
2
119 Participants252 Participants133 Participants
Number of coexisting conditions
3
86 Participants167 Participants81 Participants
Number of coexisting conditions
4 or more
79 Participants149 Participants70 Participants
Number of pack-years of smoking15.8 pack-years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 19.79
14.1 pack-years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.09
12.4 pack-years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.8
Number of quick-reliever nebulizations per week3.0 Nebulizations per week
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.8
2.9 Nebulizations per week
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.7
2.7 Nebulizations per week
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.6
Obesity403 Participants824 Participants421 Participants
Participant-perceived overall health
Excellent
9 Participants22 Participants13 Participants
Participant-perceived overall health
Fair
272 Participants529 Participants257 Participants
Participant-perceived overall health
Good
194 Participants394 Participants200 Participants
Participant-perceived overall health
Poor
66 Participants128 Participants62 Participants
Participant-perceived overall health
Very good
60 Participants128 Participants68 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/ethnicity
African American/Black
300 Participants603 Participants303 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/ethnicity
Hispanic/Latinx
301 Participants598 Participants297 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Puerto Rico
51 Participants102 Participants51 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
550 Participants1099 Participants549 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
497 Participants1005 Participants508 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
104 Participants196 Participants92 Participants
Smoking status
Current smoker
74 Participants143 Participants69 Participants
Smoking status
Former smoker
46 Participants100 Participants54 Participants
Smoking status
Non-smoker
481 Participants958 Participants477 Participants
Use of quick-reliever nebulizer396 Participants804 Participants408 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
3 / 6094 / 611
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 6090 / 611
serious
Total, serious adverse events
75 / 60974 / 611

Outcome results

Primary

Rate of Asthma Exacerbations Per Year

Our primary outcome, the rate of asthma exacerbations per year, is defined as the number of exacerbations, emergency room visits, or hospitalizations requiring oral or parenteral corticosteroids, per patient per year

Time frame: monthly through study completion an average of 15 months

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
PARTICSRate of Asthma Exacerbations Per Year0.69 Adjusted annualized exacerbations
Usual CareRate of Asthma Exacerbations Per Year0.82 Adjusted annualized exacerbations
p-value: 0.04895% CI: [0.72, 0.999]Cox proportional hazard model
Secondary

Asthma Control: Asthma Control Test (ACT) Score, Least-squares Mean Change From Baseline

Asthma control represents the degree to which impairment (impact of asthma on patient's daily life) is minimized and the goals of therapy are met. The Asthma Control Test is a participant-administered tool for assessing the level of asthma control. Total scores range from 5 to 25, with a score of 20 to 25 indicating well-controlled asthma, a score of 16 to 19 indicating asthma that was not well controlled, and a score of 5 to 15 indicating very poorly controlled asthma. The minimal clinically important difference is 3 points

Time frame: Monthly through study completion an average of 15 months

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)
PARTICSAsthma Control: Asthma Control Test (ACT) Score, Least-squares Mean Change From Baseline3.4 units on a scale
Usual CareAsthma Control: Asthma Control Test (ACT) Score, Least-squares Mean Change From Baseline2.5 units on a scale
95% CI: [0.5, 1.2]
Secondary

Days Per Year Lost From Work or School/ Days Unable to Carry Out Usual Activities Due to Asthma

Defined as days not able to work or go to school because of asthma symptoms OR days not able to carry out usual activities due to asthma

Time frame: Monthly through study completion an average of 15 months

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
PARTICSDays Per Year Lost From Work or School/ Days Unable to Carry Out Usual Activities Due to Asthma13.4 days per year
Usual CareDays Per Year Lost From Work or School/ Days Unable to Carry Out Usual Activities Due to Asthma16.8 days per year
95% CI: [0.67, 0.95]
Secondary

Preference Based Quality of Life: Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI), Least-squares Mean Change From Baseline

The ideal outcome measure for any comparative effectiveness analysis captures the risks and benefits for each of the interventions from the patient's point of view. The use of a preference-based instrument, the Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI), captures this important information. The Asthma Symptom Utility Index is a participant-administered tool for assessing preference-based quality of life. Scores range from 0 (worst possible symptoms) to 1 (no symptoms). The minimal clinically important difference is 0.09.

Time frame: Monthly through study completion an average of 15 months

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)
PARTICSPreference Based Quality of Life: Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI), Least-squares Mean Change From Baseline0.12 units on a scale
Usual CarePreference Based Quality of Life: Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI), Least-squares Mean Change From Baseline0.08 units on a scale
95% CI: [0.02, 0.05]

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 28, 2026