Efficacy of a centralized, blended electronic, and human intervention to improve direct oral anticoagulant adherence: Smartphones to improve rivaroxaban ADHEREnce in atrial fibrillation (SmartADHERE) a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Improving adherence to direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) is challenging, and simple text messaging reminders have not been effective. METHODS: SmartADHERE was a randomized trial that tested a personalized digital and human direct oral anticoagulant adherence intervention compared to usual care. Eligibility required age ≥ 18, newly-prescribed (≤90 days) rivaroxaban for atrial fibrillation (AF), 1 of 4 at-risk criteria for nonadherence, and a smartphone. The intervention consisted of combination of a medication management smartphone app, daily app-based reminders, adaptive text messaging, and phone-based counseling for severe nonadherence. The primary outcome was the proportion of days covered by rivaroxaban (PDC) at 6 months. There were 25 U.S. sites, all cardiology and electrophysiology outpatient practices, activated for a target sample size of 378, but the study was terminated by the sponsor prior to reaching target enrollment. RESULTS: There were 139 participants (age 65±9.6 years, 30% female, median CHA2DS2-VASc score 3 with IQR 2 to 4, mean total medication burden 7.7±4.4). DOAC adherence was high in both arms with no difference in the primary outcome (PDC 0.86±0.25 intervention vs 0.88±0.25 control, p=0.62) or in secondary outcomes including PDC ≥ 0.80 and medication persistence. Per protocol analyses had similar results. Because of the high overall PDC, the likelihood to answer the primary hypothesis was only 51% even if target enrollment were achieved. There were no study-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a centralized digital and human adherence intervention was feasible across multiple sites. Overall adherence was much higher than expected despite prescreening for at-risk individuals. SmartADHERE illustrates the challenges of trials of behavioral and technology interventions, where enrollment itself may lead to selection bias or treatment effects. Pragmatic study designs, such as cluster randomization or stepped-wedge implementation, should be considered to improve enrollment and generalizability.

Reasons for hospitalizations in patients with type 2 diabetes in the CANVAS programme: A secondary analysis.

AIM: To determine the reasons for hospitalizations in the CANagliflozin cardioVascular Assessment Study (CANVAS) programme and the effects of the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor canagliflozin on hospitalization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed on the CANVAS programme that included 10 142 participants with type 2 diabetes randomized to canagliflozin or placebo. The primary outcome was the rate of total (first plus all recurrent) all-cause hospitalizations (ACH). Secondary outcomes were total hospitalizations categorized by the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities hierarchy at the system organ class level, reported by investigators at each centre. Outcomes were assessed using negative binomial models. RESULTS: Of the 7115 hospitalizations reported, the most common reasons were cardiac disorders (23.7%), infections and infestations (15.0%), and nervous system disorders (9.0%). The rate of total ACH was lower in the canagliflozin group (n = 5795) compared with the placebo group (n = 4347): 197.9 versus 215.8 participants per 1000 patient-years, respectively (rate ratio [RR] 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86, 0.98). Canagliflozin reduced the rate of total hospitalizations because of cardiac disorders (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.75, 0.88). There was no significant difference between the canagliflozin and placebo groups in the rates of total hospitalizations because of infections and infestations (RR 0.96; 95% CI 0.86, 1.02) or nervous system disorders (RR 0.96; 95% CI 0.88, 1.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the CANVAS programme, the most common reasons for hospitalization were cardiac disorders, infections and infestations, and nervous system disorders. Canagliflozin, compared with placebo, reduced the rate of total ACH.

Prevention of Bleeding in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing PCI.

BACKGROUND: In patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with placement of stents, standard anticoagulation with a vitamin K antagonist plus dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with a P2Y12 inhibitor and aspirin reduces the risk of thrombosis and stroke but increases the risk of bleeding. The effectiveness and safety of anticoagulation with rivaroxaban plus either one or two antiplatelet agents are uncertain. METHODS: We randomly assigned 2124 participants with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who had undergone PCI with stenting to receive, in a 1:1:1 ratio, low-dose rivaroxaban (15 mg once daily) plus a P2Y12 inhibitor for 12 months (group 1), very-low-dose rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus DAPT for 1, 6, or 12 months (group 2), or standard therapy with a dose-adjusted vitamin K antagonist (once daily) plus DAPT for 1, 6, or 12 months (group 3). The primary safety outcome was clinically significant bleeding (a composite of major bleeding or minor bleeding according to Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] criteria or bleeding requiring medical attention). RESULTS: The rates of clinically significant bleeding were lower in the two groups receiving rivaroxaban than in the group receiving standard therapy (16.8% in group 1, 18.0% in group 2, and 26.7% in group 3; hazard ratio for group 1 vs. group 3, 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47 to 0.76; P<0.001; hazard ratio for group 2 vs. group 3, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.80; P<0.001). The rates of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke were similar in the three groups (Kaplan-Meier estimates, 6.5% in group 1, 5.6% in group 2, and 6.0% in group 3; P values for all comparisons were nonsignificant). CONCLUSIONS: In participants with atrial fibrillation undergoing PCI with placement of stents, the administration of either low-dose rivaroxaban plus a P2Y12 inhibitor for 12 months or very-low-dose rivaroxaban plus DAPT for 1, 6, or 12 months was associated with a lower rate of clinically significant bleeding than was standard therapy with a vitamin K antagonist plus DAPT for 1, 6, or 12 months. The three groups had similar efficacy rates, although the observed broad confidence intervals diminish the surety of any conclusions regarding efficacy. (Funded by Janssen Scientific Affairs and Bayer Pharmaceuticals; PIONEER AF-PCI ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01830543 .).

A pilot phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to explore the antiviral activity, clinical outcomes, safety, and tolerability of rilematovir at two dose levels in non-hospitalized adults with respiratory syncytial virus infection.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the antiviral effect, clinical outcomes, and safety of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion inhibitor rilematovir in non-hospitalized RSV-infected adults. METHODS: This phase 2a, double-blind, multicentre study randomly assigned RSV-positive adult outpatients ≤5 days from symptom onset 1:1:1 to receive rilematovir 500 mg, 80 mg, or placebo once-daily for 7 days. Antiviral effect was assessed by RSV RNA viral load (VL), measured by quantitative RT-PCR, and Kaplan-Meier (KM) estimates of time to undetectable VL. Clinical course was assessed by KM estimates of median time to resolution of key RSV symptoms assessed through patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: RSV-positive patients (n = 72) were randomly assigned; 66 had confirmed RSV infection and received rilematovir 500 mg (n = 23), 80 mg (n = 21) or placebo (n = 22). Differences versus placebo in mean RSV RNA VL area under the curve (90% CI) through days 3, 5 and 8, respectively, were 0.09 (-0.837; 1.011), -0.10 (-2.171; 1.963), and -1.03 (-4.746; 2.682) log10 copies.day/mL for rilematovir 500 mg, and 1.25 (0.291; 2.204), 2.53 (0.430; 4.634), and 3.85 (0.097; 7.599) log10 copies.day/mL for rilematovir 80 mg. KM estimates of median (90% CI) time-to-first confirmed undetectable VL were 5.9 (3.85; 6.90), 8.0 (6.86; 12.80) and 7.0 (6.62; 10.88) days and 5.7 (2.93; 7.01), 8.1 (6.74; 12.80) and 7.9 (6.62; 11.74) days in patients with symptom onset ≤3 days, for rilematovir 500 mg, 80 mg, and placebo, respectively. KM estimates of median (90% CI) time to resolution of key RSV symptoms were 7.1 (5.03; 11.43), 7.6 (5.93; 8.32), and 9.6 (5.95; 14.00) days for rilematovir 500 mg, 80 mg, and placebo, respectively; and in patients with symptom onset ≤3 days, median 8.0, 7.6, and 11.8 days, respectively. DISCUSSION: Rilematovir use, initiated early, suggests a potential clinical benefit in RSV-infected adults, with data supporting development of RSV therapeutic options. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03379675).

A randomized, double-blind trial comparing ceftobiprole medocaril with vancomycin plus ceftazidime for the treatment of patients with complicated skin and skin-structure infections.

BACKGROUND: A randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial involving patients with a broad range of complicated skin and skin-structure infections due to either gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria was conducted to compare ceftobiprole monotherapy with treatment with vancomycin plus ceftazidime. METHODS: Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive ceftobiprole or to receive vancomycin plus ceftazidime. Outcomes were determined at a test-of-cure visit (7-14 days after completion of therapy) and were analyzed for all patients with complicated skin and skin-structure infections, as well as for subgroups, on the basis of major types of infections and severity of disease. RESULTS: Among the clinically evaluable and the intent-to-treat populations, clinical cure rates at the test-of-cure visit were similar in the ceftobiprole and comparator treatment arms (clinical cure rate, 90.5% [439 of 485 patients] and 90.2% [220 of 244 patients] in the clinically evaluable population, respectively; 81.9% [448 of 547 patients] and 80.8% [227 of 281 patients] in the intent-to-treat population, respectively). Clinical cure rates in ceftobiprole-treated patients ranged from 86.2% (125 of 145 patients) among those with diabetes who had foot infections to 93.0% (80 of 86 patients) among those with cellulitis. Among patients treated with ceftobiprole, clinical cure rates were similar among patients from whom gram-negative bacteria were isolated (87.9% [109 of 124 patients]) and among patients from whom gram-positive bacteria were isolated (91.8% [292 of 318 patients]) and were not statistically different from the clinical cure rates among comparator-treated patients (89.7% [61 of 68 patients] and 90.3% [149 of 165 patients], respectively). Rates of adverse events and serious adverse events in the 2 treatment groups were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Ceftobiprole monotherapy is as effective as vancomycin plus ceftazidime for treating patients with a broad range of complicated skin and skin-structure infections and infections due to gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Comparison of Four Bleeding Risk Scores to Identify Rivaroxaban-treated Patients With Venous Thromboembolism at Low Risk for Major Bleeding.

OBJECTIVES: Outpatient treatment of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) requires the selection of patients with a low risk of bleeding during the first few weeks of anticoagulation. The accuracy of four systems, originally derived for predicting bleeding in VTE treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), was assessed in VTE patients treated with rivaroxaban. METHODS: All patients treated with rivaroxaban in the multinational EINSTEIN deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) trials were included. Major bleeding was defined as ≥2 g/dL drop in hemoglobin or ≥2-unit blood transfusion, bleeding in critical area, or bleeding contributing to death. The authors examined the incidence of major bleeding in patients with low-risk assignment by the systems of Ruiz-Gimenez et al. (score = 0 to 1), Beyth et al. (score = 0), Kuijer et al. (score = 0), and Landefeld and Goldman. (score = 0). For clinical relevance, the definition of low risk for all scores except Kuijer includes all patients < 65 years with no prior bleeding history and no comorbid conditions (current cancer, renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, anemia, prior stroke, or myocardial infarction). RESULTS: A total of 4,130 patients (1,731 with DVT only, 2,399 with PE with or without DVT) were treated with rivaroxaban for a mean (±SD) duration of 207.6 (±95.9) days. Major bleeding occurred in 1.0% (40 of 4,130; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7% to 1.3%) overall. Rates of major bleeding for low-risk patients during the entire treatment period were similar: Ruiz-Gimenez et al., 12 of 2,622 (0.5%; 95% CI = 0.2% to 0.8%); Beyth et al., nine of 2,249 (0.4%; 95% CI = 0.2% to 0.8%); Kuijer et al., four of 1,186 (0.3%; 95% CI = 0.1% to 0.9%); and Landefeld and Goldman, 11 of 2,407 (0.5%; 95% CI = 0.2% to 0.8%). At 30 days, major bleed rates for low-risk patients were as follows: Ruiz-Gimenez et al., five of 2,622 (0.2%; 95% CI = 0.1% to 0.4%); Beyth et al., five of 2,249 (0.2%; 95% CI = 0.1% to 0.5%); Kuijer et al., three of 1,186 (0.3%; 95% CI = 0.1% to 0.7%); and Landefeld and Goldman, seven of 2,407 (0.3%; 95% CI = 0.1% to 0.6%). No low-risk patient had a fatal bleed. CONCLUSIONS: Four scoring systems that use criteria obtained in routine clinical practice, derived to predict low bleeding risk with VKA treatment for VTE, identified patients with less than a 1% risk of major bleeding during full-course treatment with rivaroxaban.

The oral neurokinin-1 antagonist aprepitant for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin--the Aprepitant Protocol 052 Study Group.

PURPOSE: In early clinical trials with patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy, the neurokinin antagonist aprepitant significantly enhanced the efficacy of a standard antiemetic regimen consisting of a type-three 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonist and a corticosteroid. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study was performed to establish definitively the superiority of the aprepitant regimen versus standard therapy in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients receiving cisplatin > or = 70 mg/m2 for the first time were given either standard therapy (ondansetron and dexamethasone on day 1; dexamethasone on days 2 to 4) or an aprepitant regimen (aprepitant plus ondansetron and dexamethasone on day 1; aprepitant and dexamethasone on days 2 to 3; dexamethasone on day 4). Patients recorded nausea and vomiting episodes in a diary. The primary end point was complete response (no emesis and no rescue therapy) on days 1 to 5 postcisplatin, analyzed by a modified intent-to-treat approach. Treatment comparisons were made using logistic regression models. Tolerability was assessed by reported adverse events and physical and laboratory assessments. RESULTS: The percentage of patients with complete response on days 1 to 5 was significantly higher in the aprepitant group (72.7% [n = 260] v 52.3% in the standard therapy group [n = 260]), as were the percentages on day 1, and especially on days 2 to 5 (P <.001 for all three comparisons). CONCLUSION: Compared with standard dual therapy, addition of aprepitant was generally well tolerated and provided consistently superior protection against CINV in patients receiving highly emetogenic cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Efficacy and safety of a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist in postmenopausal women with overactive bladder with urge urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: Urge urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine commonly occurring in older adults, particularly women. Preclinical evidence suggests that urge urinary incontinence may occur due to up-regulation of tachykinin mediated bladder/spinal reflex signaling. This study tested the hypothesis that aprepitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, may be efficacious in the treatment of urge urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled, parallel group pilot study in which postmenopausal women with a history of urge urinary incontinence or mixed incontinence (with predominantly urge urinary incontinence) were assigned to receive a 160 mg capsule of aprepitant (61) or placebo (64) once daily for 8 weeks. The primary end point was percent change from baseline in average daily micturitions assessed by a voiding diary. Secondary end points included average daily total urinary incontinence and urge urinary incontinence episodes, and urgency episodes. RESULTS: Aprepitant significantly decreased the average daily number of micturitions compared with placebo at 8 weeks. The between-group treatment difference expressed as percent change from baseline was -6.8%, 95% CI (-12.5, -1.1) (p = 0.019). The average daily number of urgency episodes was also significantly reduced compared to placebo (p = 0.049). The average daily number of urge urinary incontinence and total urinary incontinence episodes were also reduced, although the difference was not statistically significant. Aprepitant was generally well tolerated and adverse experiences were generally mild. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this initial study suggest that neurokinin-1 receptor antagonism may represent a novel therapeutic approach to treating overactive bladder syndrome.

Antiemetic efficacy of the neurokinin-1 antagonist, aprepitant, plus a 5HT3 antagonist and a corticosteroid in patients receiving anthracyclines or cyclophosphamide in addition to high-dose cisplatin: analysis of combined data from two Phase III randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: The tendency of chemotherapeutic regimens to cause vomiting is dependent on the individual drugs in the regimen. The authors analyzed data combined from 2 Phase III trials to assess the effect of the neurokinin-1 (NK(1)) antagonist aprepitant combined with a 5HT(3) antagonist plus a corticosteroid in a subpopulation receiving > 1 emetogenic chemotherapeutic agent. METHODS: In the current study, 1043 cisplatin-naive patients (42% were women) receiving cisplatin-based (> or = 70 mg/m(2)) chemotherapy were assigned randomly to a control regimen (ondansetron [O] 32 mg intravenously and dexamethasone [D] 20 mg orally on Day 1; D 8 mg twice daily on Days 2-4) or an aprepitant (A) regimen (A 125 mg orally plus O 32 mg and D 12 mg on Day 1; A 80 mg and D 8 mg once daily on Days 2-3; and D 8 mg on Day 4). Randomization was stratified for use of concomitant chemotherapy and female gender. The primary end point was complete response (no vomiting and no rescue therapy) on Days 1-5 (0-120 hours). Data were analyzed by a modified intent-to-treat approach, and logistic regression was used to make treatment comparisons among patients receiving the most frequently coadministered emetogenic concomitant chemotherapy (Hesketh level > or = 3). RESULTS: Among the approximately 13% of patients (n = 81 for A; n = 80 for control) who received additional emetogenic chemotherapy (doxorubicin or cyclophosphamide), the aprepitant regimen provided a 33 percentage-point improvement in the complete response rate compared with the control regimen. Among the general population, the advantage with aprepitant was 20 percentage points. CONCLUSIONS: The current analysis of > 1000 patients from 2 large randomized trials showed that in the subpopulation at increased risk of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting due to concomitant emetogenic chemotherapy, the addition of aprepitant to standard antiemetics improved protection to an even greater extent than in the general study population.