Biomarkers to target antibiotics and steroid therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations

ISRCTN ISRCTN92422949
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN92422949
Secondary identifying numbers G0601369
Submission date
28/05/2009
Registration date
30/07/2009
Last edited
12/09/2012
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Respiratory
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Christopher E Brightling
Scientific

Glenfield Hospital
Groby Road
Leicester
LE3 9QP
United Kingdom

Email ceb17@le.ac.uk

Study information

Study designAmended 20/10/2009: A randomised biomarker-driven prednisolone/placebo intervention study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleThe use of biomarkers to direct antibiotic and systemic corticosteroid therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations: a randomised controlled study
Study acronymBEAT:COPD
Study objectivesChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is predicted to be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2020. COPD exacerbations are an important feature of the disease, accounting for significant morbidity, mortality and health care costs.

COPD exacerbations are associated with bacterial and viral respiratory infections and airway inflammation. Current guidelines advocate the use of oral corticosteroids for patients with a COPD exacerbation who have increased dyspnoea and antibiotics in those with a history of more purulent sputum. A Cochrane review for the use of systemic corticosteroids and antibiotics in COPD exacerbations have shown that corticosteroids increase the rate of recovery following a severe exacerbation, reduce the length of hospital admission and reduce the proportion of patients that have treatment failure. However, it is likely these small corticosteroid-related benefits are confined to a sub-group of patients. Likewise antibiotic therapy in COPD exacerbations is beneficial, with a reduction in short-term mortality and treatment failure; however, the range of response was large and it is estimated that antibiotics are of clinical benefit in only 25 - 50% of COPD exacerbations.

Our inability to identify accurately which patients with a COPD exacerbation should receive antibiotics and or corticosteroids inevitably leading to inappropriate and excessive use of treatment, is the basis of our hypothesis and the use of a single or composite to deliver targeted antibiotic and or corticosteroid therapy at the time of a COPD exacerbation.

As of 20/10/2009 this record was updated after a change to the protocol following MHRA approval. All changes can be found under the relevant section with the above update date. Please note that at this time, the following changes were made:
1. The study design has been updated; the initial study design was: 'Randomised controlled study'
2. The target number of participants has changed; the initial target number of participants was: '136'
3. A placebo arm was added to the interventions section; details of this can be found in the interventions section.
Ethics approval(s)Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Research Ethics Committee approved in September 2007 (ref: 07/H0406/157)
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
InterventionCurrent interventions as of 20/10/2009:
Randomised 12-month parallel group study with two study groups:
1. Standard care therapy group: subjects will receive treatment as decided by a physician and complying with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)/National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for management of COPD exacerbations. This may include increasing bronchodilators, a short duration of oral corticosteroids plus or minus antibiotic therapy (according to local hospital microbiological guidelines).
2. Biomarker directed therapy group: subjects will be assigned to 14 days of oral prednisolone or matching placebo as guided by the biomarker and/or 7 days (maximum) of antibiotic therapy.

Randomisation by minimisation: COPD severity, eosinophilic airway inflammation, exacerbation frequency from previous 12 months. Each arm of the study will be followed up for 12 months.

Initial interventions at time of registration:
Randomised 12-month parallel group study with two study groups:
1. Standard care therapy group: subjects will receive treatment as decided by a physician and complying with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)/National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for management of COPD exacerbations. This may include increasing bronchodilators, a short duration of oral corticosteroids plus or minus antibiotic therapy (according to local hospital microbiological guidelines).
2. Biomarker directed therapy group: subjects will be assigned to 14 days of oral prednisolone and/or 7 days (maximum) of antibiotic therapy or neither as guided by the biomarker.

Randomisation by minimisation: COPD severity, eosinophilic airway inflammation, exacerbation frequency from previous 12 months. Each arm of the study will be followed up for 12 months.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Proportion of exacerbations treated with antibiotics and corticosteroids
2. Proportion of exacerbations that are associated with a treatment failure
3. Change in health status

Looked at within 3 months of the completion of the study.

Added 20/10/2009:
The study has 80% powering to show equivalence in a minimal change of health status (0.5: measured by the mCRQ).
Secondary outcome measures1. Change in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)
2. Markers of airway inflammation
3. Number of adverse reactions

Looked at within 3 months of the completion of the study.
Overall study start date01/09/2009
Completion date01/09/2010

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants106 (standard therapy arm: 53; biomarker arm: 53)
Key inclusion criteria1. Provision of informed consent
2. Male or female
3. Aged 40 years or over
4. Diagnosis of COPD
5. Greater than one exacerbation requiring antibiotics and or corticosteroids in the preceding year
Key exclusion criteria1. Current active respiratory tuberculosis
2. Upon questioning the patient known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or positive hepatitis B or C
3. Known inability to produce a sputum sample during the induced sputum procedure
4. Clinically relevant disease or disorder (past or present) which in the opinion of the investigator may either put the subject at risk because of participating in the study or may influence the results of the study or the subject's ability to participate in the study
5. Any clinically relevant lung disease other than COPD
6. Donation of blood within 3 months or during the study (for other than study purpose)
7. Pregnancy or lactation
Date of first enrolment01/09/2009
Date of final enrolment01/09/2010

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Glenfield Hospital
Leicester
LE3 9QP
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UK)
Hospital/treatment centre

Glenfield Hospital
Groby Road
Leicester
LE3 9QP
England
United Kingdom

Email carolyn.maloney@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
Website http://www.uhl-tr.nhs.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02fha3693

Funders

Funder type

Research council

Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK) (ref: G0601369)
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), UK Medical Research Council, MRC
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/07/2012 Yes No