Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) or chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys have lost all or
almost all of their ability to filter excess fluid and waste products from the body. Almost all patients with ESRD also have secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), which is the excessive release of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by the parathyroid glands (small glands in the neck) in response to low blood calcium levels and abnormal growth of these glands. SHPT causes calcium levels to rise and phosphorus levels to fall, leading to abnormal levels in a patients blood. Uncontrolled SHPT is associated with an increased risk of death in patients with ESRD. However, currently there is no data available about what happens when control is achieved for a number of markers of the disease (which include levels of calcium and phosphorus) within the same patient. In addition there is limited knowledge of the patterns of how SHPT is treated in normal clinical practice and their associated treatment costs. This study aims to describe the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in the UK NHS with a focus on the renal unit service structure and policies, treatments, prescribing patterns and the costs and outcomes achieved. SHPT management will be explored in reference to the existing UK Renal Association Clinical Guidelines, the National Kidney Federation Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines and the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guideline. There are a number of medications available to physicians to control the levels of the disease markers. However, currently there is limited availability of both the medication cinacalcet (a drug that mimics the action of calcium with body tissues) and also a group of medications known as non-calcium containing phosphate binders. There is a perception that this availability varies considerably from hospital to hospital due to local funding policies. As such, there is an interest in understanding what triggers a physician to prescribe cinacalcet and non-calcium containing phosphate binders in the UK.
Who can participate?
Patients currently undergoing haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (types of treatments for kidney
failure) are eligible for participation. Patients are not eligible if they have been undergoing dialysis for less than 90 days at the start of data collection.
What does the study involve?
Data will be collected from medical records of patients and through review of written Trust / department policies and staff complement / staffing structure / organisational diagram documents. Data about the clinical management of patients will be extracted from renal unit databases and paper-based medical records.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Patients will not participate directly in this study. Inclusion of a patients medical records in this review will cause no additional risk for the patient, as their inclusion involves no further diagnosis, assessment or therapeutic practice other than that considered appropriate by his/her physician. As patients are not directly participating in the study, there are no direct benefits. However, it is anticipated that their data will help to improve care and patient outcomes for SHPT.
Where is the study run from?
Data will be collected from Renal Units in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge; Birmingham Heartlands Hospital; Doncaster Royal Infirmary; Freeman Hospital, Newcastle; Ninewells Hospital, Dundee; Northern General Hospital, Sheffield; Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Southend Hospital. The Chief Investigator (Dr Nicholas Pritchard) is based at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in June 2011 and finished in November 2011.
Who is funding the study?
Amgen sponsored this research study.
Who is the main contact?
Dr Nicholas Pritchard
nick.pritchard@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
20090260
Study information
Scientific title
A cross-sectional survey of the current management of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis in the UK NHS
Acronym
Study hypothesis
There were no hypotheses for this study, as this was an observational study. SHPT has a considerable impact on the morbidity and mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease. Although the UK Renal Registry report provides comprehensive data on achievement of single markers of disease control there is no data available that describes achievement of multiple markers of disease control within the same patient; it might be argued that this is a more important measure. Similarly, longitudinal data describing achievement of disease marker targets is not available. In addition there is limited knowledge regarding the patterns of treatment for SHPT in normal clinical practice and their associated treatments costs. Currently there is restricted availability of both cinacalcet and non-calcium containing phosphate binders with a perception that this availability differs widely from renal unit to renal unit due to local funding policies. There is interest in understanding the triggers for prescription of cinacalcet and non-calcium containing phosphate binders in the UK in terms of clinical and treatment history.
Ethics approval
NRES Committee East of England - Cambridge South, 11/03/2011, REC refrence number: 11/EE/0043
Study design
Observational retrospective multi-centre cross-sectional survey in secondary care
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cross sectional study
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Condition
Secondary hyperparathyroidism
Intervention
Data regarding renal unit service structure and local policies relating to SHPT management were obtained through review of written Trust/department policies and staff complement /staffing structure/organisational diagram documents. Data regarding the clinical management of patients was extracted from renal unit databases and paper-based medical records. All data was sourced from written policy and staffing documents or the hospital Trust computer systems and patients‟ hospital medical notes in the hospital Trusts. No treatment was given, and there was no direct contact with patients. The period of data collection / observation was between 6th June 2011 to 22 November 2011 (twenty-five weeks).
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
N/A - observational study
Secondary outcome measures
N/A - observational study
Overall trial start date
06/06/2011
Overall trial end date
22/11/2011
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Patients undergoing haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis with a PTH greater than 15pMol for at least one reading in the 12 months prior to the data collection period.
2. Patients with a PTH 15pMol or less who have been prescribed a phosphate binder within the 12 months prior to the data collection period.
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Not Specified
Gender
Not Specified
Target number of participants
Target number = 1800-3000, final number = 2361
Participant exclusion criteria
Patients undergoing dialysis for less than 90 days prior to the data collection period.
Recruitment start date
06/06/2011
Recruitment end date
22/11/2011
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Addenbrooke‟s Hospital
Cambridge
CB2 2QQ
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Amgen Limited (UK)
Sponsor details
c/o Becky Wiggs
Medical Department
Amgen Limited
240 Cambridge Science Park
Milton Road
Cambridge
CB4 0WD
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
Industry
Website
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
This trial was sponsored by Amgen UK and Ireland (study number: 20090260).
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Amgen Limited
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Cambridge Science Park
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Milton Road
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Cambridge
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CB4 0WD
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Tel: +44 (0)1223 420305
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Fax: +44 (0)1223 426314
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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
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary