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Daridorexant to Prevent Post-cardiotomy Delirium

Randomized, Double-blind Trial of Daridorexant to Prevent Delirium After Heart Surgery

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07217912
Enrollment
80
Registered
2025-10-17
Start date
2025-10-14
Completion date
2027-11-01
Last updated
2026-01-07

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

Conditions

Postoperative Cognitive Decline, Postoperative Delirium

Keywords

delirium, sleep, cognitive decline, Alzheimer disease and related dementias

Brief summary

The goal of this follow-on pilot randomized clinical trial is to obtain additional preliminary data to inform a larger, adequately powered phase 2b trial of daridorexant for the prevention of postoperative delirium after heart surgery. Having demonstrated feasibility in a prior study (RSRB #9841), this study aims to estimate the effect of daridorexant on (1) reducing delirium symptom burden and incidence and (2) improving self-reported sleep quality during the postoperative period, and (3) to assess the feasibility of collecting objective sleep data in the postoperative setting. Participants will: complete a baseline visit; take the study drug, either daridorexant or placebo, each of the first three nights after heart surgery; and be evaluated daily for sleep and delirium during the first three postoperative days. Participants will also have the option of wearing a sleep monitor in the hospital each of the first three nights after surgery.

Interventions

Administered consistent with labeling from the US Food and Drug Administration.

OTHERPlacebo

Identical appearing to daridorexant

Sponsors

University of Rochester
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Study drug and placebo will be identical in appearance, labeling, and administration schedule. Randomization and treatment assignment will be managed by the investigational pharmacy. The blind will be maintained for participants, care providers, investigators, and outcome assessors, and will be broken only after data lock or in the event of a medical emergency.

Intervention model description

Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio, stratified by surgery type (SAVR vs CABG) in blocks of 4, to receive either daridorexant or matching placebo on the first three postoperative nights following heart surgery.

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* ≥ 60 yrs; * having surgical aortic valve surgery or coronary artery bypass graft surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital; * can provide consent; * able to speak, read,and write English (as the instruments, including semi-structured interviews, used in this protocol have been validated in English); * family member or close friend for collateral.

Exclusion criteria

* Prior cardiotomy * Infectious endocarditis * Emergency surgery * Delirium at baseline (positive 3D-CAM) * Auditory or visual impairment that prevents study procedures * Alcohol or substance misuse (CAGE-AID score ≥ 2) * Psychotic disorder * Dementia-level deficits (TICS \< 27) * Use of a prescription sleep aid at least every other night * Use of a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (e.g., ceritinib, clarithromycin, cobicistat, idelalisib, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, posaconazole, ritonavir, telithromycin, voriconazole) * Daridorexant intolerance * Severe kidney or liver impairment (Child-Pugh ≥7, Cockcroft-Gault \<30 mL/min, or on dialysis) * Narcolepsy * Suicidal ideation at baseline * Any condition that, in the PI's opinion, compromises patient safety or data quality * Additional exclusions for the NLP exploratory aim: history of traumatic brain injury or head concussions with loss of consciousness, use of corticosteroids, or history of major neurological disease or brain surgery

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Delirium incidence and severityPostoperative Days 1-3Participants will be assessed on postoperative days 1-3 using the Delirium Rating Scale, Revised-98 (DRS-R98; range 0-39; higher scores indicate greater severity of delirium symptoms) and 3-minute Diagnostic interview for the Confusion Assessment Method (3D-CAM; 22 dichotomous items used to inform delirium status). Delirium diagnosis is defined per Diagnostic and Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision, and its severity defined as the sum of DRS-R98 score on postoperative days 1-3.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Postoperative sleep qualityPostoperative Nights 1-3Participants will complete Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire on postoperative days 1-3. This scale includes 6 items (sleep-related domains), each scored using a visual analog scale, ranging from 0 to 100. The total score represents the mean of the first five domain scores. Higher scores indicate better subjective sleep quality.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactMark Oldham, MD
mark_oldham@urmc.rochester.edu585-275-3592

Outcome results

None listed

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