A Patient-centered Trial of a Process-of-care Intervention in Hospitalized AKI Patients: the COPE-AKI Trial

NCT ID: NCT05805709

Last Updated: 2025-09-04

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

2145 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-09-05

Study Completion Date

2027-03-05

Brief Summary

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The COPE-AKI study is a randomized, pragmatic, parallel-arm trial comparing a multimodal intervention to usual care on hospital-free days through 90 days of study follow up. The primary study hypothesis is that patients randomized to the intervention will have increased odds of more hospital-free days through 90 days (primary clinical) compared to those randomized to usual care. Key secondary hypotheses will investigate the impact of the intervention on rates of major adverse kidney events, rates of recurrent AKI, and changes in patient-reported outcomes. Participants (N=2145) will be allocated 1:1 to the intervention or usual care using a web-based system to maintain allocation concealment using stratified randomization with randomly permuted blocks. Randomization will be stratified by clinical site.

Detailed Description

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The primary study hypotheses for the COPE-AKI study are: compared to usual care, patients randomized to a multimodal intervention will have increased odds of more hospital-free days through 90 days (primary) and lower rates of major adverse kidney events (MAKE) at 180 days, lower rates of recurrent AKI at 180 days, and greater improvements in patient-reported outcomes over 90 days (secondary).

The primary outcome is hospital-free days through 90 days of follow up, defined as 90 minus the number of calendar days in the hospital as either an inpatient or on observation status, based on the determination made by the corresponding hospital. Key secondary outcomes include: rates of MAKE (measured at 90, 180, and 365 days), rates of recurrent AKI (90, 180, and 365 days), and 4 patient-report outcomes: global health related quality of life, AKI-specific health related quality of life, provider interactions, and social support (30, 90, 180, 365 days).

A multimodal process-of-care intervention that includes 1) study physician oversight and follow up care recommendations at the time of hospital discharge; 2) involvement of a nurse navigator to provide kidney-disease related education, coordinate care, and assess symptoms; and 3) pharmacist-led medication reconciliation and review. Participants in the usual care arm will be provided information about their kidney disease, nephrotoxins to be avoided, and the importance of follow up with a physician will be emphasized.

Conditions

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Acute Kidney Injury

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is a randomized, pragmatic, parallel-arm kidney trial conducted to find out if an "enhanced care" team approach can improve a patient's outcomes after hospitalization with acute kidney injury (AKI). Participants (N=2145) will be allocated 1:1 to the intervention or usual care using a web-based system to maintain allocation concealment using stratified randomization with randomly permuted blocks. Randomization will be stratified by clinical site.
Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
Participants and the clinical care teams (nurse navigator, pharmacist, and study physician) will not be masked due to unblinded nature of the intervention. Research coordinators who carry out screening, enrollment, and study visits at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months will be masked from participant group assignment. Similarly, study visits performed by research coordinator at baseline (enrollment), 3 months and 12 months will be masked. Similarly, assessment of study endpoints will be blinded to group assignment.

Study Groups

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Multimodal Process of Care Intervention

A multimodal process-of-care intervention that includes 1) study physician oversight and follow up care recommendations at the time of hospital discharge; 2) involvement of a nurse navigator to provide kidney-disease related education, coordinate care, and assess symptoms; and 3) pharmacist-led medication reconciliation and review.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Study Physician/Advance Practice Provider

Intervention Type OTHER

The nephrologist and/or nephrology-associated advanced practice provider (APP) at each site will lead the intervention team for the duration of the study. The study physicians will fulfil two main roles: (a) Provide supervision to the rest of the study team and (b) conduct a discharge assessment to triage and make recommendations for follow-up care.

Nurse Navigator

Intervention Type OTHER

The nurse navigator will be the primary contact for the participants assigned to the intervention group for the study. The navigator will obtain contact information, information about the patient's usual care providers and pharmacy, review medications, show the participant how to use the home blood pressure machine and scales and arrange for follow-up visits. The role of the nurse navigator will be to monitor the participant's medical condition; facilitate scheduling of needed medical follow-up including both routine (pre-scheduled) and ad hoc (urgent or emergency); enhance adherence with prescribed medical care and follow-up appointments; and serve as a resource to the patient to answer questions about their AKI-related management, facilitate medical and associated care and provide enhanced psychosocial support.

Pharmacist

Intervention Type OTHER

The pharmacist will complete the medication reconciliation and medication regimen review per the predetermined checklist, via telemedicine if agreeable to the patient. The goal of the patient/caregiver-pharmacist interaction is to cover the following: avoidance of nephrotoxins when possible and appropriate, appropriate dosing of renally cleared drugs, review for drug-drug interactions, monitoring appropriate use of chronic medications, medication adherence, monitor for adverse drug reactions, evaluation of non-prescription medication use, medication/disease education and social support.

Patient Education

Intervention Type OTHER

Written information about kidney disease, nephrotoxins to be avoided and importance/need for follow up with a physician will be provided.

Usual Care

After receiving the same written information about kidney disease, nephrotoxins to be avoided and importance/need for follow up with a physician as individuals randomized to the multimodal intervention arm, participants randomized to the control arm will receive usual care as specified by their treating providers and will not be followed by nurse navigator, pharmacist, or the study team. The only subsequent study-related activities will be the follow-up study visits for ascertainment of endpoints with the research coordinator.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Patient Education

Intervention Type OTHER

Written information about kidney disease, nephrotoxins to be avoided and importance/need for follow up with a physician will be provided.

Interventions

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Study Physician/Advance Practice Provider

The nephrologist and/or nephrology-associated advanced practice provider (APP) at each site will lead the intervention team for the duration of the study. The study physicians will fulfil two main roles: (a) Provide supervision to the rest of the study team and (b) conduct a discharge assessment to triage and make recommendations for follow-up care.

Intervention Type OTHER

Nurse Navigator

The nurse navigator will be the primary contact for the participants assigned to the intervention group for the study. The navigator will obtain contact information, information about the patient's usual care providers and pharmacy, review medications, show the participant how to use the home blood pressure machine and scales and arrange for follow-up visits. The role of the nurse navigator will be to monitor the participant's medical condition; facilitate scheduling of needed medical follow-up including both routine (pre-scheduled) and ad hoc (urgent or emergency); enhance adherence with prescribed medical care and follow-up appointments; and serve as a resource to the patient to answer questions about their AKI-related management, facilitate medical and associated care and provide enhanced psychosocial support.

Intervention Type OTHER

Pharmacist

The pharmacist will complete the medication reconciliation and medication regimen review per the predetermined checklist, via telemedicine if agreeable to the patient. The goal of the patient/caregiver-pharmacist interaction is to cover the following: avoidance of nephrotoxins when possible and appropriate, appropriate dosing of renally cleared drugs, review for drug-drug interactions, monitoring appropriate use of chronic medications, medication adherence, monitor for adverse drug reactions, evaluation of non-prescription medication use, medication/disease education and social support.

Intervention Type OTHER

Patient Education

Written information about kidney disease, nephrotoxins to be avoided and importance/need for follow up with a physician will be provided.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged ≥ 18 years
2. Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Stage 2/3 AKI with evidence of persistent AKI (defined as meeting Stage 2+ AKI for 2 consecutive days with serum creatinine concentration measurements \>12 hours apart)

Exclusion Criteria

1. AKI due to primary glomerulonephritis, renal vasculitis, or thrombotic microangiopathy
2. Diagnosis of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) at the time of admission, defined as:

1. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<15 mL/min/1.73m2
2. Previous kidney transplant recipient
3. On chronic dialysis
3. Acute urinary obstruction with rapid kidney function improvement following relief of obstruction
4. Index hospitalization involving nephrectomy
5. Index hospitalization involving solid organ transplant or stem cell/bone marrow transplant
6. Continued dialysis dependence at time of discharge
7. Previous (within 6 months) or new referral to a nephrologist for care specifically for:

1. Previous or new diagnosis of glomerulonephritis
2. Primary electrolyte imbalance disorders unrelated to AKI (e.g., syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, Bartter syndrome)
3. Active treatment for acute interstitial nephritis
8. Non-kidney end-organ failure:

1. Class IV congestive heart failure
2. Decompensated cirrhosis with Model For End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) \> 30 or those with a diagnosis of hepatorenal syndrome by the clinical teams
3. End-stage pulmonary disease (advanced stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension)
9. Metastatic malignancy or malignancy requiring active treatment (chemotherapy, immunotherapy), such as multiple myeloma
10. Primary goal of care is palliation: life expectancy \<6 months
11. Pregnancy
12. Vulnerable populations

1. Persons incarcerated
2. Persons institutionalized
13. Inability to provide informed consent

a. Impaired cognition as demonstrated by the Brief Confusion Assessment Method (bCAM)
14. Concurrent enrollment in a separate greater than minimal risk interventional trial
15. Inability to participate in either in-person or remote visits

a. Inability to participate as determined by the research team at time of discharge based on disposition (vs uniform decision across site about exclusion based on SNF)
16. Discharge to long-term acute care facility or other hospital-based location
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Pittsburgh

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Kaleab Abebe, PhD

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Kaleab Abebe, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Univerisity of Pittsburgh

Linda Fried, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Pittsburgh

Paul Palevsky, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Pittsburgh

Sandy Kane-Gill, PharmD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Pittsburgh

Locations

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University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital

Weston, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

MetroHealth

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Nashville VA Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Susan J Copelli, MSHI

Role: CONTACT

412-245-0803

Kaleab Abebe, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Patricia Busta

Role: primary

Angela V Castro, MD

Role: primary

Laura Duarte

Role: primary

Tramanh Phan, MD

Role: primary

Pam Corona, MD

Role: primary

Kyra Jancik

Role: primary

Savannah Gagnon, BS

Role: primary

Jasiu Latocha

Role: primary

Ethan Kefauver, BS

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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1U01DK130010

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

1U01DK129989

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

1U01DK129980

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

1U01DK129984

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

STUDY21080024

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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