Trial Outcomes & Findings for Nitrous Oxide Treatment for Tinnitus (NCT NCT03365011)

NCT ID: NCT03365011

Last Updated: 2018-12-14

Results Overview

Change of participant-reported tinnitus symptoms 1 week after each intervention. The Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) is a 25-question survey assessing tinnitus impact on quality of life. Participants were asked to rate on a scale from 0-10 the degree of unpleasantness, cognitive interference, sleep disturbance, auditory difficulties, interference with relaxation, and emotional distress associated with their tinnitus. Subscores are summed and scaled to a score of 0-100. A score less than 25 indicates mild problems due to tinnitus and little need for intervention, while a score between 25-50 indicates significant problems due to tinnitus with potential need for intervention. A decrease in TFI score indicates decreased bother due to tinnitus over time, a better outcome. An increase in TFI score indicates increased bother due to tinnitus over time, a worse outcome.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE4

Target enrollment

40 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Pre-intervention and 1 week post-intervention

Results posted on

2018-12-14

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Placebo First
Participants are randomized to receive placebo during the first session, followed by nitrous oxide during the second session.
Nitrous Oxide First
Participants are randomized to receive nitrous oxide during the first session, followed by placebo during the second session.
Overall Study
STARTED
20
20
Overall Study
COMPLETED
19
18
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
1
2

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Placebo First
Participants are randomized to receive placebo during the first session, followed by nitrous oxide during the second session.
Nitrous Oxide First
Participants are randomized to receive nitrous oxide during the first session, followed by placebo during the second session.
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
1
2

Baseline Characteristics

Nitrous Oxide Treatment for Tinnitus

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Placebo First
n=20 Participants
Participants are randomized to receive placebo during the first session, followed by nitrous oxide during the second session.
Nitrous Oxide
n=20 Participants
Participants are randomized to receive nitrous oxide during the first session, followed by placebo during the second session.
Total
n=40 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
53.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.4 • n=5 Participants
52.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.1 • n=7 Participants
52.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.1 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
7 Participants
n=7 Participants
20 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
13 Participants
n=7 Participants
20 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · White
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
15 Participants
n=7 Participants
31 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · Black
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · Other
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · Did not respond
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
20 Participants
n=5 Participants
20 Participants
n=7 Participants
40 Participants
n=5 Participants
Tinnitus Functional Index
42 units on a scale
n=5 Participants
40 units on a scale
n=7 Participants
41 units on a scale
n=5 Participants
Global Bothersome Scale
Not bothered
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Global Bothersome Scale
Bothered a little, but not much
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Global Bothersome Scale
Bothered more than a little, but not a lot
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
12 Participants
n=7 Participants
24 Participants
n=5 Participants
Global Bothersome Scale
Bothered a lot
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
Global Bothersome Scale
Extremely bothered
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
4 Participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Pre-intervention and 1 week post-intervention

Change of participant-reported tinnitus symptoms 1 week after each intervention. The Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) is a 25-question survey assessing tinnitus impact on quality of life. Participants were asked to rate on a scale from 0-10 the degree of unpleasantness, cognitive interference, sleep disturbance, auditory difficulties, interference with relaxation, and emotional distress associated with their tinnitus. Subscores are summed and scaled to a score of 0-100. A score less than 25 indicates mild problems due to tinnitus and little need for intervention, while a score between 25-50 indicates significant problems due to tinnitus with potential need for intervention. A decrease in TFI score indicates decreased bother due to tinnitus over time, a better outcome. An increase in TFI score indicates increased bother due to tinnitus over time, a worse outcome.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=39 Participants
Placebo was defined as 50% nitrogen and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes.
Nitrous Oxide
n=38 Participants
Nitrous oxide treatment was defined as 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes.
Change in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) Score
-1.8 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.8
-2.5 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Pre-intervention and 1 week post-intervention

Change in participant-reported tinnitus bother after each intervention. Global Bothersome Scale (GBS) measured participant's self-assessment of tinnitus bother on a 5-point scale ranging from "Not bothered, 0" to "Extremely bothered, 5." A change of 0 indicates no change in tinnitus bother over time. A change of -1 indicates somewhat improved tinnitus bother, and a change of positive 1 indicates somewhat worsened tinnitus bother. A change of positive 2 indicates significantly worsened tinnitus bother.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=39 Participants
Placebo was defined as 50% nitrogen and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes.
Nitrous Oxide
n=38 Participants
Nitrous oxide treatment was defined as 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes.
Change in Global Bothersome Scale (GBS) Score
Somewhat improved, -1
5 participants
2 participants
Change in Global Bothersome Scale (GBS) Score
No change, 0
28 participants
34 participants
Change in Global Bothersome Scale (GBS) Score
Somewhat worsened, 1
5 participants
2 participants
Change in Global Bothersome Scale (GBS) Score
Significantly worsened, 2
1 participants
0 participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 week post-intervention

Participant-reported perception of change in impact of tinnitus on quality of life since receiving each intervention

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=37 Participants
Placebo was defined as 50% nitrogen and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes.
Nitrous Oxide
n=37 Participants
Nitrous oxide treatment was defined as 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes.
Patients' Global Impression of Change
A little better
2 Participants
2 Participants
Patients' Global Impression of Change
Somewhat better
4 Participants
0 Participants
Patients' Global Impression of Change
Moderately better
1 Participants
4 Participants
Patients' Global Impression of Change
Better, definite improvement
1 Participants
1 Participants
Patients' Global Impression of Change
No change or worsened
24 Participants
20 Participants
Patients' Global Impression of Change
Almost the same
5 Participants
10 Participants
Patients' Global Impression of Change
Great deal better, considerable improvement
0 Participants
0 Participants

Adverse Events

Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Nitrous Oxide

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 3 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Placebo
n=40 participants at risk
Placebo was defined as 50% nitrogen and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes. Participants are blinded to the order of interventions administered. Participants have been informed prior to consent that one session will contain the nitrous oxide gas mixture, and the other session will contain the placebo gas mixture. Placebo gas for inhalation: Placebo gaseous mixture (50% nitrogen and 50% oxygen) for 40 minutes duration under anesthesia supervision with monitoring according to standards set by the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Nitrous Oxide
n=40 participants at risk
Nitrous oxide treatment was defined as 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen for 40 minutes. Participants are blinded to the order of interventions administered. Participants have been informed prior to consent that one session will contain the nitrous oxide gas mixture, and the other session will contain the placebo gas mixture. Nitrous oxide gas for inhalation: Nitrous oxide gaseous mixture (50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen) for 40 minutes duration under anesthesia supervision with monitoring according to standards set by the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
General disorders
Nausea
0.00%
0/40 • 9 months
2.5%
1/40 • Number of events 1 • 9 months
General disorders
Lightheadedness
0.00%
0/40 • 9 months
2.5%
1/40 • Number of events 1 • 9 months
General disorders
Panic attack
0.00%
0/40 • 9 months
2.5%
1/40 • Number of events 1 • 9 months

Additional Information

Jay F. Piccirillo, MD, FACS

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Phone: (314) 362-8641

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place