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The Simplify Project

A Strategy to Improve Management and Prolong LIFe Without Readmission for hYpercapnic Patients: The Simplify Project

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05011877
Acronym
SIMPLIFY
Enrollment
50
Registered
2021-08-18
Start date
2021-09-01
Completion date
2026-07-01
Last updated
2025-05-20

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

Conditions

Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure

Keywords

Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure, Patient Readmission, Mortality, Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic

Brief summary

The high frequency of unplanned hospital visits of patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity-related hypoventilation) constitutes a major public health problem. Most patients admitted for acute exacerbations (AHRF) have additional comorbidities, especially sleep disorders. Often untreated, sleep disorders contribute to multiple readmissions (≈70% at one year) and increase readmission costs. The investigators will: 1) identify these patients early during unplanned hospital admissions and perform sleep studies using EEG and oximetry before hospital discharge and two months after to compare sleep abnormalities in the two moments; 2) investigate the association between sleep abnormalities in the two sleep studies with clinical outcomes (1-year readmission and death); 3) investigate the acute effects of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) to treat sleep abnormalities as a simplified alternative. The investigators anticipate sleep abnormalities during the hospital stay and two months after discharge will be associated with poor clinical outcomes (readmission, death) and HFNC to acutely reduce sleep abnormalities.

Detailed description

The investigators will perform sleep studies using nocturnal EEG measurements and oximetry 1) while the participants are still in the hospital but have reached relative clinical stability (≥48 h after admission, not in ICU and pHv ≥7.36) and 2) two months after hospital discharge at the participant's home. Sleep studies will be performed from 5:00 pm to 8 am. EEG measurements will be performed using a portable monitor (Prodigy Sleep System, Cerebra, Winnipeg, Canada). Sleep assessment will be performed offline. The ORP will be continuously quantified and ORP-derived indices will be calculated. Nocturnal oximetry will be used for detecting sleep desaturation episodes. Comorbidities (e.g., obesity, diagnosed lung or heart disease, Charlson comorbidity index) and exacerbations/hospitalization in the previous year will be identified. In 21 participants, the investigators will perform one additional sleep study with the participants breathing with high-flow nasal cannula therapy (HFNC) to investigate the acute impact (i.e., during one night) of HFNC on reducing sleep abnormalities. HFNC will be set from 25 - 60 L/min based on participant's tolerance and the inspired fraction of oxygen will be titrated to maintain patient SpO2 similar to the levels during standard oxygen therapy.

Interventions

High-flow nasal cannula therapy (HFNC) (from 25 - 60 L/min based on patient's tolerance) will be used in 21 participants during one additional sleep study to investigate its acute impact on reducing sleep abnormalities. Inspired fraction of oxygen will be titrated to maintain patient SpO2 similar to the levels during standard oxygen therapy.

Sponsors

Unity Health Toronto
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Adult patients requiring an unplanned hospitalization or emergency room visit due to an acute hypercapnic respiratory failure exacerbation (AHRF), not on home noninvasive or invasive ventilation, neuromuscular disease (e.g., spinal cord injury) or central nervous system disorders (e.g., cerebral vascular accident, Alzheimer), absence of tracheotomy, and non-morbidly obese.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with AHRF due to drug overdose * Ventilatory support (noninvasive or invasive ventilation) is needed before or during the sleep studies or if an acute deterioration (e.g., cerebral vascular accident, cardiac arrest) happens before or during the sleep studies.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
1-year hospital readmission and 1-year mortality1 yearThe primary endpoint is to compare the rate of 1-year Hospital readmission and mortality between patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure with vs. without sleep abnormalities during the home sleep study measured by the odds ratio product (ORP) and the 2017 American Academy of Sleep Medicine rules

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Need of ventilatory supportThrough study completion, an average of 1 yearThe secondary endpoint is to compare the need of invasive and non-invasive ventilatory support between patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure with vs. without sleep abnormalities during the sleep study performed at the hospital measured by the odds ratio product (ORP) and the 2017 American Academy of Sleep Medicine rules
Need of ICU admissionThrough study completion, an average of 1 yearThe secondary endpoint is to compare the need of ICU admission between patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure with vs. without sleep abnormalities during the sleep study performed at the hospital measured by the odds ratio product (ORP) and the 2017 American Academy of Sleep Medicine rules
In-hospital mortalityThrough study completion, an average of 1 yearThe secondary endpoint is to compare the rate of in-hospital mortality between patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure with vs. without sleep abnormalities during the sleep study performed at the hospital measured by the odds ratio product (ORP) and the 2017 American Academy of Sleep Medicine rules
HFNC effects on sleep depth according to the ORP range15 hoursIn 21 patients. Time spend in different ORP ranges during the sleep study which the patients used the standard oxygen therapy and the night which the patients used HFNC.
Hospital length of stayThrough study completion, an average of 1 yearThe secondary endpoint is to compare the length of stay during the hospital admission between patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure with vs. without sleep abnormalities during the sleep study performed at the hospital measured by the odds ratio product (ORP) and the 2017 American Academy of Sleep Medicine rules
HFNC effects on sleep depth according to the AASM criteria15 hoursIn 21 patients. Time spend in different sleep stages (AASM 2017 rules) during the sleep study which the patients used the standard oxygen therapy and the night which the patients used HFNC.
HFNC effects on the prevalence of sleep abnormalities15 hoursIn 21 patients. The prevalence of sleep abnormalities during the sleep study which the patients used the standard oxygen therapy and the night which the patients used HFNC.
Sleep depth according to the AASM at the hospital vs. home15 hoursTime spend in different sleep stages (AASM 2017 rules) during the sleep study performed at the hospital vs. at patient's home.
Prevalence of sleep abnormalities at the hospital vs. home15 hoursThe prevalence of sleep abnormalities during the sleep study performed at the hospital vs. at home.
Sleep depth according to the ORP during the sleep study performed at the hospital and at home15 hoursTime spend in different ORP ranges during the sleep study performed in the hospital vs. at home.

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Primary ContactLaurent Brochard, MD, PhD
Laurent.Brochard@unityhealth.to416-864-5686
Backup ContactAntenor Rodrigues, PT
Antenor.Rodrigues@unityhealth.to

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026