Trial Outcomes & Findings for Pilot Study to Examine Health Effects of Daylight Exposure on Dementia Patients (NCT NCT03483896)

NCT ID: NCT03483896

Last Updated: 2019-03-29

Results Overview

The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) was used to measure depression. The CSDD is designed for the assessment of depression in older people with dementia who can at least communicate basic needs. The CSDD scale ranges from 0 to 38, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression. Scores above 10 indicate a probable major depression. Scores above 18 indicate a definite major depression. Scores below 6 are associated with absence of significant depressive symptoms.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

83 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

A CSDD score was taken at the beginning of the 12-week study and once again at the end of the 12-week study.

Results posted on

2019-03-29

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Control
At the 4 facilities in the control arm, participants received the usual care. During the period from 8:00 - 10:00 AM each day, the control group was taken to a similar sized area indoors (without daylight) for socialization under typical electrical lighting conditions.
Daylight Intervention
At the 4 facilities in the active light intervention arm, staff increased the daylight exposure of participants by taking them to the perimeter zone of a daylit room from 8:00 to 10:00 AM for socialization over a period of 12 weeks. The perimeter zone was defined to be the region of the room within 3 meters from windows. The intervention was administered each day (7 days / week) over the duration of the study. Daylight Intervention: Staff increased the daylight exposure of participants by taking them to the perimeter zone of a daylit room from 8:00 to 10:00 AM for socialization over a period of 12 weeks. The perimeter zone was defined to be the region of the room within 3 meters from windows. The intervention was administered each day (7 days / week) over the duration of the study.
Overall Study
STARTED
33
50
Overall Study
COMPLETED
31
46
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
2
4

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Included patients with CSDD obtained within 4 months of start of study, leading to 28 analyzed for the control group (of 31) and 38 analyzed for the Daylight Intervention group (of 46). Baseline means and SDs reported here do not account for clustering within facility.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Control
n=31 Participants
At the 4 facilities in the control arm, participants received the usual care. During the period from 8:00 - 10:00 AM each day, the control group was taken to a similar sized area indoors (without daylight) for socialization under typical electrical lighting conditions.
Daylight Intervention
n=46 Participants
At the 4 facilities in the active light intervention arm, staff increased the daylight exposure of participants by taking them to the perimeter zone of a daylit room from 8:00 to 10:00 AM for socialization over a period of 12 weeks. The perimeter zone was defined to be the region of the room within 3 meters from windows. The intervention was administered each day (7 days / week) over the duration of the study. Daylight Intervention: Staff increased the daylight exposure of participants by taking them to the perimeter zone of a daylit room from 8:00 to 10:00 AM for socialization over a period of 12 weeks. The perimeter zone was defined to be the region of the room within 3 meters from windows. The intervention was administered each day (7 days / week) over the duration of the study.
Total
n=77 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Ethnicity · Non-white race
2 Participants
n=31 Participants
4 Participants
n=46 Participants
6 Participants
n=77 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
31 participants
n=31 Participants
46 participants
n=46 Participants
77 participants
n=77 Participants
Age, Continuous
84.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.3 • n=31 Participants
85.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.9 • n=46 Participants
85.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.0 • n=77 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
25 Participants
n=31 Participants
31 Participants
n=46 Participants
56 Participants
n=77 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
6 Participants
n=31 Participants
15 Participants
n=46 Participants
21 Participants
n=77 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Ethnicity · White race
29 Participants
n=31 Participants
42 Participants
n=46 Participants
71 Participants
n=77 Participants
Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD)
4.4 units on CSDD scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.5 • n=28 Participants • Included patients with CSDD obtained within 4 months of start of study, leading to 28 analyzed for the control group (of 31) and 38 analyzed for the Daylight Intervention group (of 46). Baseline means and SDs reported here do not account for clustering within facility.
5.0 units on CSDD scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.4 • n=38 Participants • Included patients with CSDD obtained within 4 months of start of study, leading to 28 analyzed for the control group (of 31) and 38 analyzed for the Daylight Intervention group (of 46). Baseline means and SDs reported here do not account for clustering within facility.
4.4 units on CSDD scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.5 • n=66 Participants • Included patients with CSDD obtained within 4 months of start of study, leading to 28 analyzed for the control group (of 31) and 38 analyzed for the Daylight Intervention group (of 46). Baseline means and SDs reported here do not account for clustering within facility.
Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH)
16.3 units on NPH-NH scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.5 • n=31 Participants
16.0 units on NPH-NH scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 19.1 • n=46 Participants
16.1 units on NPH-NH scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.3 • n=77 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: A CSDD score was taken at the beginning of the 12-week study and once again at the end of the 12-week study.

Population: Included patients with CSDD obtained within 4 months of start of study, leading to 28 analyzed for the control group (of 31) and 38 analyzed for the Daylight Intervention group (of 46). Baseline means and SDs reported here do not account for clustering within facility.

The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) was used to measure depression. The CSDD is designed for the assessment of depression in older people with dementia who can at least communicate basic needs. The CSDD scale ranges from 0 to 38, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression. Scores above 10 indicate a probable major depression. Scores above 18 indicate a definite major depression. Scores below 6 are associated with absence of significant depressive symptoms.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Control
n=28 Participants
At the 4 facilities in the control arm, participants received the usual care. During the period from 8:00 - 10:00 AM each day, the control group was taken to a similar sized area indoors (without daylight) for socialization under typical electrical lighting conditions.
Daylight Intervention
n=36 Participants
At the 4 facilities in the active light intervention arm, staff increased the daylight exposure of participants by taking them to the perimeter zone of a daylit room from 8:00 to 10:00 AM for socialization over a period of 12 weeks. The perimeter zone was defined to be the region of the room within 3 meters from windows. The intervention was administered each day (7 days / week) over the duration of the study. Daylight Intervention: Staff increased the daylight exposure of participants by taking them to the perimeter zone of a daylit room from 8:00 to 10:00 AM for socialization over a period of 12 weeks. The perimeter zone was defined to be the region of the room within 3 meters from windows. The intervention was administered each day (7 days / week) over the duration of the study.
Change in Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD)
1.5 units on CSDD scale
Standard Error 1.0
-2.0 units on CSDD scale
Standard Error 0.9

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: A NPI-NH score was taken at the beginning of the 12-week study and once again at the end of the 12-week study.

The Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH) was used to measure neuropsychiatric symptomatology. The NPI-NH is a scale designed for assessment of people with dementia residing in extended care facilities. The NPI-NH includes ten behavioral areas (delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, elation/euphoria, apathy/indifference, disinhibition, irritability/lability, aberrant motor behavior) and two types of neurovegetative changes (sleep and nighttime behavior disorders, appetite and eating disorders). Each of the 12 areas is scored on a subscale ranging from 0-12, where higher scores indicate greater neuropsychiatric symptomatology. A summary score is obtained from summing all 12 subscale scores. The summary score ranges from 0 - 144, where higher scores indicate greater neuropsychiatric symptomatology.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Control
n=31 Participants
At the 4 facilities in the control arm, participants received the usual care. During the period from 8:00 - 10:00 AM each day, the control group was taken to a similar sized area indoors (without daylight) for socialization under typical electrical lighting conditions.
Daylight Intervention
n=46 Participants
At the 4 facilities in the active light intervention arm, staff increased the daylight exposure of participants by taking them to the perimeter zone of a daylit room from 8:00 to 10:00 AM for socialization over a period of 12 weeks. The perimeter zone was defined to be the region of the room within 3 meters from windows. The intervention was administered each day (7 days / week) over the duration of the study. Daylight Intervention: Staff increased the daylight exposure of participants by taking them to the perimeter zone of a daylit room from 8:00 to 10:00 AM for socialization over a period of 12 weeks. The perimeter zone was defined to be the region of the room within 3 meters from windows. The intervention was administered each day (7 days / week) over the duration of the study.
Change in Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH)
3.1 Units on NPH-NH scale
Standard Error 3.2
-2.8 Units on NPH-NH scale
Standard Error 2.9

Adverse Events

Control

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 2 deaths

Daylight Intervention

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 1 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Prof. Kyle Konis, Ph.D

University of Southern California

Phone: (213) 740-2723

Results disclosure agreements

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