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The Effect of Higher Protein Dosing in Critically Ill Patients

The Effect of Higher Protein Dosing in Critically Ill Patients: A Multicenter Registry-based Randomized Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03160547
Acronym
EFFORT
Enrollment
1329
Registered
2017-05-19
Start date
2017-11-21
Completion date
2021-12-03
Last updated
2022-03-28

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

Conditions

Critical Illness, Malnutrition

Brief summary

The investigator will investigate the effects of higher protein/amino acid dosing (≥2.2 g/kg/d) vs usual protein/amino acid dosing (≤1.2 g/kg/d) on clinical outcomes in nutritionally high risk ill patients.

Detailed description

The EFFORT Study is a multi-center, pragmatic, volunteer-driven, registry-based, randomized, clinical trial of 4000 nutritionally high-risk critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). We anticipate over 100 sites participating internationally, with each site enrolling a minimum of 30 patients. Patients will be randomized to 1 of 2 treatment groups: a usual prescription (≤1.2 g/kg/d) or a higher prescription (≥2.2 g/kg/d) of protein. Other than the protein amount the patient is randomized to the remainder of care provided to randomized patient will be at the discretion of ICU providers. In both groups, targets will be achieved through any combination of enteral nutrition (high protein content in high group if available), protein supplements, and parenteral nutrition or amino acids only (as clinically available). The only difference between the 2 groups is the protein targets that are set. Similar efforts should be used in both groups to achieve at least 80% of these targets. The remainder of care provided to eligible patients will be at the discretion of ICU providers. The investigator has posed two research questions: Primary Research Question: In critically ill patients with nutrition 'risk factors', what is the effect of prescribing a higher dose (≥2.2 grams/kg/day) of protein/amino acid administration compared to a usual dose prescribed ≤1.2 gram/kg/day on time to discharge alive from hospital? Secondary Research Question: In critically ill patients with nutrition 'risk factors', what is the effect of prescribing a higher dose (≥2.2 grams/kg/day) of protein/amino acid administration compared to patients prescribed ≤1.2 gram/kg/day on 60 day mortality? The proposed hypothesis: Compared to receiving usual dose of protein/amino acids, the administration of a higher dose of protein/amino acids (a consequence of having a higher prescription) to nutritionally high-risk critically ill patients will be associated with a quicker rate of recovery and an improved survival.

Interventions

OTHERUsual Protein/Amino Acid Group

Protein targets will be set using pre-ICU dry actual weight. For patients with BMI \>30, ideal body weight based on a BMI of 25 will be used. We will endorse the guidelines for energy targets set forth by ASPEN/SCCM, especially as it pertains to the obese patient.

Protein targets will be set using pre-ICU dry actual weight. For patients with BMI \>30, ideal body weight based on a BMI of 25 will be used. We will endorse the guidelines for energy targets set forth by ASPEN/SCCM, especially as it pertains to the obese patient.

Sponsors

Clinical Evaluation Research Unit at Kingston General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. ≥18 years old 2. Nutritionally 'high-risk' (meeting one of the below criteria) 1. Low (≤25) or High BMI (≥35) 2. Moderate to severe malnutrition (as defined by local assessments). We will document the means by which sites are making this determination and capture the elements of the assessment (history of weight loss, history of reduced oral intake, etc.). 3. Frailty (Clinical Frailty Scale 5 or more from proxy) 4. Sarcopenia- (SARC-F score of 4 or more from proxy) 5. From point of screening, projected duration of mechanical ventilation \>4 days 3. Requiring mechanical ventilation with actual or expected total duration of mechanical ventilation \>48 hours

Exclusion criteria

1. \>96 continuous hours of mechanical ventilation before screening 2. Expected death or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments within 7 days from screening 3. Pregnant 4. The responsible clinician feels that the patient either needs low or high protein 5. Patient requires parenteral nutrition only and site does not have products to reach the high protein dose group.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to discharge alive from hospital60 dayThis is a composite of mortality and length of stay, evaluated up to 60 days post randomization

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
60-day mortality60 dayMortality 60 days post randomization

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hospital mortality60 dayTo be evaluated up to 60 days post randomization
Readmission to ICU and Hospital60 dayTo be evaluated up to 60 days post randomization
Hospital length of stay60 dayTo be evaluated up to 60 days post randomization
ICU length of stay60 dayTo be evaluated up to 60 days post randomization
Duration of Mechanical Ventilation60 dayTo be evaluated up to 60 days post randomization
Nutritional Adequacy60 dayTo be evaluated up to 60 days post randomization

Countries

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 12, 2026