Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Bernard Thibault
ORCID ID
Contact details
Montreal Heart Institute
5000 Belanger Street East
Montreal
H1T 1C8
Canada
+1 514 376 3330 ext. 3776
earth-study.icm@icm-mhi.org
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
NCT00900549
Protocol/serial number
UCT-67914
Study information
Scientific title
Evaluation of resynchronization therapy for heart failure (EARTH)
Acronym
EARTH
Study hypothesis
The primary hypothesis of the LESSER-EARTH is that heart failure patients with an indication for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) without a prolonged QRS duration will benefit clinically from resynchronization therapy.
The primary hypothesis of the GREATER-EARTH is that heart failure patients with an indication for an ICD and for cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) will benefit better clinically with left ventricular (LV)-based CRT than with biventricular (BiV)-based CRT.
As of 01/06/2009 and 05/06/2009 this record was updated. All updates can be found under the relevant field with the above update dates. At this time, the trial dates were updated; the initial trial dates at the time of registration were:
Initial anticipated start date: 01/01/2005
Initial anticipated end date: 31/12/2005
Ethics approval
Local ethics committee (Comité d'éthique de la recherche et du développement des nouvelles technologies de l'Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal) approved on the 11th November 2003.
Study design
Randomized controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Condition
Heart failure
Intervention
1. Insertion of the resynchronization pacing system
2. Control tests to ensure condition is stable and device functioning properly
3a. Lesser-Earth: patients randomized to resynchronization on versus off. 12-month follow-up.
3b. Greater-Earth: patients randomized to LV resynchronization verus BiV resynchronization. Cross-over 6 months.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Total exercise duration at constant sub-maximal load (defined as 75% of peak exercise during the baseline metabolic evaluation).
Secondary outcome measures
1. Clinical endpoints (Quality of Life [QoL], New York Heart Association [NYHA])
2. Electrical endpoints (ECG)
3. Echocardiographic endpoints (LVEF and volumes)
4. MUGA scan endpoints (LVEF and synchrony index)
5. Neuro-hormones (brain natriuretic peptide [BNP], atrial natriuretic peptide [ANP])
Overall trial start date
01/11/2003
Overall trial end date
01/03/2010
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Correct and updated information as of 05/06/2009:
Patient must answer "yes" to the following questions:
1. Does the patient require an ICD or an ICD replacement?
2. Does the patient have a documented left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than or equal to 35% measured in the previous 6 months (without major concomitant clinical event)?
3. Does the patient have a QRS duration of less than 120 ms?
4. Is the patient in sinus rhythm?
5. Was the six-minute walk test distance less than 400 meters and limited by heart failure symptoms?
Initial (incorrect) information at time of registration:
1. Diagnosis of asthma verified by primary care MD.
2. Aged greater than or equal to 18 years old, either sex
3. Asthma managed by primary care MD and receiving asthma drug therapy from primary care MD
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
240
Participant exclusion criteria
Amended as of 05/06/2009:
Point one of the below exclusion criteria has been amended as follows:
1. Indication for permanent pacing or with chronotropic insufficiency defined as follows:
1.1. Any condition where the treating physician believes it would not be acceptable for the patient to have his device NOT programmed with the SENSOR at ON
1.2. Second or third degree AV block, either persistent or intermittent block
1.3. Patients with a pacemaker or an ICD who are paced in either chamber (A or V) more than 5% of the time
Initial information at time of registration:
1. Indication for permanent pacing or with chronotropic insufficiency defined as follows:
1.1. Severe sinus bradycardia (resting heart rate less than 50/min)
1.2. Chronotropic insufficiency, defined as a heart rate during the screening 6-minute walk test that does not increase by more than 10 beats/minute compared to the resting rate
1.3. First degree AV block with a PR interval greater than 250 ms, Second or third degree AV block, either persistent or intermittent
1.4. Patients with a pacemaker or an ICD who are paced in either chamber (A or V) more than 5% of theme
2. LV dysfunction associated with a reversible cause such as post-partum cardiomyopathy, tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy, acute myocarditis or acute toxic cardiomyopathy (including acute alcoholic)
3. Myocardial infarction within the past 6 weeks (defined by two of the three following conditions: prolonged chest pain, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes suggesting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or cardiac enzymes elevation more than twice the local upper limit of normal)
4. Cardiac surgery within the past 6 weeks
5. Coronary angioplasty within the past 6 months
6. Moderate or severe cardiac valve stenosis
7. Inability or a limitation to walk for reasons other than heart failure symptoms (e.g. angina, intermittent claudication, severe lung condition or arthrosis)
8. Severe coexisting illnesses making survival greater than 6 months unlikely
9. Pregnancy and/or nursing
10. Inability or unwillingness to consent or comply with follow-up requirements
11. Participation in another study
Recruitment start date
01/11/2003
Recruitment end date
01/03/2010
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Canada
Trial participating centre
Montreal Heart Institute
Montreal
H1T 1C8
Canada
Sponsor information
Organisation
Montréal Heart Institute (Canada)
Sponsor details
5000 est
rue Bélanger
Montréal
H1T 1C8
Canada
+1 514 376 3330
earth-study.icm@icm-mhi.org
Sponsor type
Research organisation
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (Canada) - http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca (ref: UCT-67914)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
St. Jude Medical Canada Inc. (Mississauga, Ont) (Canada)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list