Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Delirium Duration of Non-intubated ICU Patients (4D Trial)

NCT ID: NCT03317067

Last Updated: 2023-02-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE3
• Total Enrollment: 151 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-12-21
• Study Completion Date: 2023-02-23

Brief Summary

The primary purpose of the study is to evaluate whether dexmedetomidine is effective in treating agitated delirium of non-intubated ICI patients

Detailed Description

Delirium during intensive care unit (ICU) stay is frequent and associated with significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare related costs. International guidelines suggest its prevention. However, curative treatment remains unclearly established. Despite a non-unequivocal literature, haloperidol is the first line recommended neuroleptic. Dexmedetomidine, an alpha2-adrenergic receptors agonist has shown its efficiency in the treatment of delirium in intubated patients but also in its prevention. Dexmedetomidine represents a widely used alternative to haloperidol. Only few studies have compared the efficacy of dexmedetomidine in non-intubated ICU patients as a first line curative treatment of delirium. Main objective of 4D trial is to demonstrate that dexmedetomidine decreases delirium duration compared to placebo.

The 4D trial is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, two-arm trial, randomizing 300 non-intubated ICU patients with diagnosis of agitated delirium to receive dexmedetomidine or placebo as a cure. The primary outcome measure is a composite of duration of agitation or delirium or the use of intubation with deep sedation and mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes include mortalities at 7 and 28 days, ICU length of stay and occurrence of adverse effects. The sample size will allow the detection of a 50% decrease of agitation duration (120 minutes), of an absolute reduction of delirium duration (1 day) and of a 50% relative decrease of intubation and mechanical ventilation, with a type 1 error rate of 1.8 % (error risk inflation due to components of composite) and power of 90 %, assuming a 15 % incidence of intubation and mechanical ventilation requirements, an agitation duration of 240 minutes and a delirium duration of 3 days. One hundred and 10 patients by group will be needed. A intermediate analysis is scheduled and requires the inclusion of 150 patients in each group.

The 4D trial may provide important data on the safety of commonly used sedative dexmedetomidine and could have a significant impact on future treatment of non-intubated ICU patients presenting with agitated delirium.

Conditions

Delirium; Agitation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

dexmedetomidine

Patients in the Dexmedetomidine (interventional) group will be treated with a continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine in case of agitated delirium.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Dexmedetomidine

Intervention Type: DRUG

The 4D trial is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, two-arm trial, randomizing 300 non-intubated ICU patients with diagnosis of agitated delirium to receive dexmedetomidine or placebo as a cure

Normal Saline (NaCl 0.9%)

Patients in the Normal Saline (control) group will be treated with a continuous infusion of normal saline in case of agitated delirium.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: OTHER

The 4D trial is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, two-arm trial, randomizing 300 non-intubated ICU patients with diagnosis of agitated delirium to receive dexmedetomidine or placebo as a cure

Interventions

Dexmedetomidine

The 4D trial is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, two-arm trial, randomizing 300 non-intubated ICU patients with diagnosis of agitated delirium to receive dexmedetomidine or placebo as a cure

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo

The 4D trial is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, two-arm trial, randomizing 300 non-intubated ICU patients with diagnosis of agitated delirium to receive dexmedetomidine or placebo as a cure

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• • Age > 18 years

• Patient hospitalized in an ICU
• Presenting a productive delirium according to the following criteria:
• acute onset (<2h) and fluctuating course during the same day
• alteration of cognitive functions: disorganization of thought (delirium of persecution, inability to reason logically), abnormal perceptions (hallucinations), memory impairments, temporal disorientation, non- or misrecognitions, difficulties in naming objects or writing)
• in whom a simple cropping and non-medicated therapeutics are not sufficient to allow symptoms' resolution for few hours
• CAM-ICU positive AND a RASS > +1
• Non-intubated or extubated (> 24h)
• No contraindication of dexmedetomidine or haloperidol uses

Exclusion Criteria

• • Age <18 years

• Administration of dexmedetomidine and/or clonidine during the 72 hours before inclusion
• Contraindication to the use of Dexmedetomidine, clonidine or haloperidol (history of allergy, Parkinson's disease, oro-pharyngeal dysfunction, arterial hypotension or bradycardia, QTc interval prolongation, and hepatic or renal dysfunction), as mentioned in the Summaries of Product Characteristics
• Neuropsychiatric pathology judged by the investigator as a potential source of bias (in particular: active drug addiction, psychosis...)
• Parturient or breast-feeding woman
• Protected major (guardianship)
• Patient's or relative's refusal to participate

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Thomas GODET

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand

Locations

CHU Clermont-Ferrand

Clermont-Ferrand, , France

Countries

France

References

Godet T, Louis C, Rieu B, De Jong A, Couhault P, Pradel G, Tete H, Bourguignon N, Borao L, Jabaudon M, Futier E, Jaber S, Pereira B, Chanques G, Constantin JM; 4D study group. Dexmedetomidine for treatment of hyperactive delirium in non-intubated ICU patients: the 4D randomized clinical trial. Intensive Care Med. 2025 Oct 29. doi: 10.1007/s00134-025-08135-1. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 41160116 (View on PubMed)

Louis C, Godet T, Chanques G, Bourguignon N, Morand D, Pereira B, Constantin JM; AZUREA network. Effects of dexmedetomidine on delirium duration of non-intubated ICU patients (4D trial): study protocol for a randomized trial. Trials. 2018 Jun 4;19(1):307. doi: 10.1186/s13063-018-2656-x.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 29866205 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

2017-000731-14

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

CHU- 356

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id