Computerized Decision Support for Prevention of VTE in Hospitalized Medical Patients Across the Continuum of Care (DC-eALERT)

Venous Thromboembolism Clinical Trial

— DC-eALERT  

Official title:

Randomized Controlled Trial of Computerized Decision Support for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Medical Patients Across the Continuum of Care (DC-eALERT)

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03728166
• Other study ID #: 2018P001727
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 1, 2019
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: March 2024
• Source: Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Contact: Gregory Piazza, MD, MS
• Phone: 6177326984
• Email: gpiazza[@]bwh.harvard.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Hospitalized medical patients have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) across the continuum of care, including after hospital discharge. In the APEX Trial of hospitalized patients with acute medical illness, extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis with oral betrixaban reduced the frequency of asymptomatic proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT), symptomatic proximal or distal DVT, symptomatic nonfatal pulmonary embolism (PE), or VTE-related death compared with short-duration enoxaparin. Obstacles to integration of these data in the hospitalized Medical Service patient population, including failure to identify at-risk patients, educational gaps in strategies for VTE prevention after discharge, and medication nonadherence, can be overcome with alert-based computerized decision support. This study is a single-center, 400-patient, randomized controlled trial of an EPIC Best Practice Advisory (BPA; alert-based computerized decision support tool) to increase prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis and decrease symptomatic VTE in high-risk patients hospitalized with medical illness.

Specific Aim #1: To determine the impact of electronic alert-based CDS (EPIC Best Practice Advisory [BPA]) on prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis in high-risk patients hospitalized with medical illness who are not being prescribed any prophylactic anticoagulation for VTE prevention after discharge.

Specific Aim #2: To estimate the impact of electronic alert-based CDS (EPIC BPA) on the frequency of symptomatic VTE in high-risk patients hospitalized with medical illness who are not being prescribed any prophylactic anticoagulation for VTE prevention after discharge.

Description:

Design: U.S.-based, single-center, randomized controlled trial

Background: Hospitalized medical patients have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) across the continuum of care (from before admission to after discharge). In the APEX Trial of 7513 hospitalized patients with acute medical illness, reduced mobility, and risk factors for VTE, extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis with oral betrixaban for 35 to 42 days reduced the frequency of asymptomatic proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT), symptomatic proximal or distal DVT, symptomatic nonfatal pulmonary embolism (PE), or VTE-related death by 24% in the overall study population compared with 10-14 days of enoxaparin. The integration of oral betrixaban with a computerized decision support (CDS) tool has the potential to increase the appropriate prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis in high-risk patients hospitalized with medical illness.

Study Design: 400-patient U.S.-based single-center Quality Improvement Initiative in the form of a randomized controlled trial focused on the feasibility of implementation of this electronic alert-based CDS (EPIC BPA) (Figure 1). The allocation ratio will be 1:1 for an electronic alert-based CDS (EPIC BPA) notification versus no notification.

Study Population: Patients are eligible if they are ≥40 years of age, are hospitalized for acute medical illness (heart failure, respiratory failure, infectious disease, rheumatic disease, or ischemic stroke), have reduced mobility, and have one additional risk factor for VTE:

1. Age ≥60

2. Prior VTE

3. History of cancer

Eligible patients are not prescribed thromboprophylaxis at hospital discharge.

Intervention: An EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) Best Practice Advisory (BPA) will identify patients hospitalized with medical illness who are not ordered for extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis 48 hours after admission. A first on-screen electronic alert will provide the clinician with the opportunity to consider extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis and start any required processes for prior authorization or medication coverage. A second on-screen electronic alert will be issued if extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis has still not been ordered that again notifies the provider about the increased risk for VTE after discharge and indication for thromboprophylaxis.

Primary Efficacy Outcome: Prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis. Investigators will review the order entry section of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination.

Secondary Efficacy Outcome: Frequency of symptomatic VTE at 90 days from randomization. Investigators will review the notes and diagnostic testing sections of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination. The proposed study will not be powered to show a difference in clinical events, such as symptomatic VTE, with the electronic alert-based CDS but will provide estimates from which to plan a possible subsequent multi-center trial.

Primary Safety Outcome: Major bleeding (as defined by the ISTH bleeding classification system) at 90 days from randomization. Investigators will review the notes and diagnostic testing sections of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination. The proposed study will not be powered to show a difference in clinical events, such as bleeding, with the electronic alert-based CDS but will provide estimates from which to plan a possible subsequent multi-center trial.

Follow-Up: Follow-up will consist of Electronic Health Record review at 90 days from randomization.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 400
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: December 31, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 40 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

-=40 years of age, are hospitalized for acute medical illness (heart failure, respiratory failure, infectious disease, rheumatic disease, or ischemic stroke), have reduced mobility, are not prescribed thromboprophylaxis at hospital discharge, and have one additional risk factor for VTE:

• Age =60

• Prior VTE OR

• History of cancer

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prescribed thromboprophylaxis at hospital discharge

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Thromboembolism
• Venous Thromboembolism

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Electronic alert
On-screen electronic alert that notifies the provider about the increased risk for VTE after discharge and indication for thromboprophylaxis will be issued 48 hours after admission. This first on-screen electronic alert will provide the clinician with the opportunity to consider extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis and start any required processes for prior authorization or medication coverage. The provider then will be given on-screen options to either order thromboprophylaxis (betrixaban or low-molecular weight heparin for 35 days) from a "Extended-Duration VTE Prevention" order template, follow a link to evidence-based practice guidelines, or defer prescribing extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Brigham and Women's Hospital	Boston	Massachusetts

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Brigham and Women's Hospital	Portola Pharmaceuticals

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (1)

Cohen AT, Harrington RA, Goldhaber SZ, Hull RD, Wiens BL, Gold A, Hernandez AF, Gibson CM; APEX Investigators. Extended Thromboprophylaxis with Betrixaban in Acutely Ill Medical Patients. N Engl J Med. 2016 Aug 11;375(6):534-44. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1601747. Epub 2016 May 27. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	Medication adherence	The proportion of patients who completed the 35-day course of post-discharge thromboprophylaxis.	35 days
Primary	Frequency of prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis.	Investigators will review the order entry section of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination.	90 days
Secondary	Frequency of symptomatic VTE at 90 days from randomization.	Investigators will review the notes and diagnostic testing sections of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination. The proposed study will not be powered to show a difference in clinical events, such as symptomatic VTE, with the electronic alert-based CDS but will provide estimates from which to plan a possible subsequent multi-center trial.	90 days
Secondary	Frequency of major bleeding (as defined by the ISTH bleeding classification system) at 90 days from randomization.	Investigators will review the notes and diagnostic testing sections of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination. The proposed study will not be powered to show a difference in clinical events, such as bleeding, with the electronic alert-based CDS but will provide estimates from which to plan a possible subsequent multi-center trial.	90 days
Secondary	Frequency of all-cause mortality at 90 days	Any death confirmed by medical record	90 days
Secondary	Frequency of all-cause rehospitalization at 90 days	Any rehospitalization confirmed by medical record	90 days