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TAES for FPVCs: a Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Frequent Premature Ventricular Complexes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04415203
Enrollment
90
Registered
2020-06-04
Start date
2020-06-04
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2025-07-20

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

Conditions

Premature Ventricular Complexes

Brief summary

This prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (TAVNS) for patients with frequent premature ventricular coomplexes (FPVCs). Ninety participants will be randomized to TAVNS group and sham-TAVNS group with the ratio of 1:1. They will receive TAVNS plus usual care or sham-TAVNS plus usual care for 6 weeks, and then be followed up for 12 weeks after the treatment. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants with a 50% decrease of the 24 hour (24h) premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) after 6-week treatment. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of participants with a 75% decrease of the 24h-PVCs; the decrease from baseline of 24h-PVCs, total 24h-heartbeat, and the frequency of supraventricular arrhythmia; the score change from baseline in PVCs-related symptoms; the score change from baseline in SAS and SDS. Subgroup analyses will be performed in age, gender, and the severity of PVCs. Safety assessment will be documented during the whole trial.

Interventions

Patients in TAVNS group will receive TAVNS and usual care. TAVNS will be performed on Erzhong and Xin (Auricular Acupuncture Point with vagus nerve distribution) for 6 weeks by using the Huato type SDZ-V stimulator; Usual Care: usual medicine treatment for PVCs.

DEVICESham Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (Sham-TAVNS)

Patients in sham-TAVNS group will receive sham-TAVNS and usual care. Sham-TAVNS will be also performed on Erzhong and Xin (Auricular Acupuncture Point with vegas nerve stimulation) for 6 weeks by using a special Huato type SDZ-V stimulator. We cut the inner electric wire of the stimulator; therefore, there is no current output. Usual Care: usual medicine treatment for PVCs.

Sponsors

China Association for Science and Technology
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Diagnosed as frequent premature ventricular contractions; * 2 ≤ Lown level ≤ 4A; * 18 ≤ age ≤ 75; * Volunteered to participant

Exclusion criteria

* Severe valvular disease, congenital heart disease, pericardial disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, unstable angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis, aneurysm, congestive heart failure decompensation period (NYHA grade III or VI), cardiogenic shock, cerebrovascular disease, hematopoietic system disease, severe mental disease; * Bradycardia, including pathologic sinus node syndrome, degree II or greater atrioventricular block; * Those who have already had pacemaker or percutaneous coronary intervention, or who plan to have pacemaker or percutaneous coronary intervention; * Pregnant or lactating women; * Local sensory deficit, or allergic to current; * May be allergic to percutaneous patches; * Blood pressure ≤ 90/60 mmHg; * Those who have participated in other clinical trials within 3 months.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
the proportion of participants with a 50% decrease of PVCs from baselineweek 6The PVCs will be assessed by a 24-hour Holter monitoring. The investigators will calculate the decrease of PVCs between baseline and week 6 (at the end of the treatment), then we will obtain the proportion of patients with a 50% decrease.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
the change from baseline in supraventricular premature contractionsweek 6, week 18The change from baseline in supraventricular premature contractions will be assessed by a 24-hour Holter monitoring. The investigators will calculate the change of supraventricular premature contractions between baseline and week 6/18.
the score change from baseline in the symptom of insomniaweek 6, week 18.The symptom of insomnia will be assessed by a 10-scale VAS from 0 to 10, a higher score indicates a more severe symptom of insomnia. The investigators will calculate the score change of insomnia between baseline and week 6/18.
the change of the proportion of participants with moderate/severe symptoms of palpitation, chest tightness, dizziness or insomnia from baselineweek 6, week 18.The symptom of palpitation/chest tightness/dizziness/insomnia will be assessed by a 10-scale VAS from 0 to 10. Score 4-6 are defined as the moderate level, Score 7-10 are defined as the severe level. The investigators will calculate the change of the proportion of patients with the moderate/severe symptoms between baseline and week 6/18.
the score change from baseline in the SDSweek 6, week 18.Self Depression Scale (SDS) contains 20 items scored from 25 to 100. Score 53-62 was classified as mild depression; Score 63-72 as moderate depression, and score ≥ 73 as severe depression.
the score change from baseline in SF-36week 6, week 18.The SF-36 questionnaire contains eight scales with two measures: physical and mental health. The physical health includes four scales of physical functioning (PF), role-physical (RF), bodily pain (BP), and general health (GH). The mental health is composed of vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role-emotional (RE), and mental health (MH). SF-36 scores from 0 to 100, higher scores indicate better health status.
the score change from baseline in the SASweek 6, week 18.Self Anxiety Scale (SAS) contains 20 items scored from 25 to 100. Score 50-59 was classified as mild anxiety; Score 60-69 as moderate anxiety, and score ≥ 70 as severe anxiety.
the proportion of participants with a 50% decrease of PVCs from baselineweek 18The PVCs will be assessed by a 24-hour Holter monitoring. The investigators will calculate the decrease of PVCs between baseline and week 18 (at the end of the follow-up period), then we will obtain the proportion of patients with a 50% decrease.
the proportion of participants with a 75% decrease of PVCs from baselineweek 6, week 18The PVCs will be assessed by a 24-hour Holter monitoring. The investigators will calculate the decrease of PVCs between baseline and week 6/18, then we will obtain the proportion of patients with a 75% decrease.
the change from baseline in PVCsweek 6, week 18The PVCs will be assessed by a 24-hour Holter monitoring. The investigators will calculate the decrease of PVCs between baseline and week 6/18.
the change from baseline in total cardiac impulseweek 6, week 18The total cardiac impulse will be assessed by a 24-hour Holter monitoring. The investigators will calculate the change of total cardiac impulse between baseline and week 6/18.
the score change from baseline in the symptom of palpitationweek 6, week 18.The symptom of palpitation will be assessed by a 10-scale VAS from 0 to 10, a higher score indicates a more severe symptom of palpitation. The investigators will calculate the score change of palpitation between baseline and week 6/18.
the score change from baseline in the symptom of chest tightnessweek 6, week 18.The symptom of chest tightness will be assessed by a 10-scale VAS from 0 to 10, a higher score indicates a more severe symptom of chest tightness. The investigators will calculate the score change of chest tightness between baseline and week 6/18.
the score change from baseline in the symptom of dizzinessweek 6, week 18.The symptom of dizziness will be assessed by a 10-scale VAS from 0 to 10, a higher score indicates a more severe symptom of dizziness. The investigators will calculate the score change of dizziness between baseline and week 6/18.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
subgroup analysis of the severity of PVCsweek 6Subgroup analysis will be performed in the primary outcome. The investigators will classify the patients with three subgroups by the severity of PVCs through Lown: level 2, level 3, and level 4A
the proportion of participants with adverse eventsweek 6, week 18Safety assessment, The investigators will calculate the adverse events during the whole study.
subgroup analysis of genderweek 6Subgroup analysis will be performed in the primary outcome. The investigators will classify the patients with two subgroups by gender: male and female.
subgroup analysis of agesweek 6Subgroup analysis will be performed in the primary outcome. The investigators will classify the patients with two subgroups by age: ≤40 years and \> 40 years.

Countries

China

Contacts

Primary ContactJiani Wu
jiani_wu@aliyun.com+8613426116653

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 6, 2026