Slow recruitment in the HIMALAIA study: lessons for future clinical trials in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage based on feasibility data

Celine S. Gathier; Mathieu van der Jagt; HIMALAIA Study Grp; Walter M. van den Bergh; Jan Willem Dankbaar; Gabriel J. E. Rinkel; Arjen J. C. Slooter

doi:10.1186/s40814-022-01155-4

Slow recruitment in the HIMALAIA study: lessons for future clinical trials in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage based on feasibility data

Celine S. Gathier^*, Mathieu van der Jagt, HIMALAIA Study Grp, Walter M. van den Bergh, Jan Willem Dankbaar, Gabriel J. E. Rinkel, Arjen J. C. Slooter

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Background: Our randomized clinical trial on induced hypertension in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) was halted prematurely due to unexpected slow recruitment rates. This raised new questions regarding recruitment feasibility. As our trial can therefore be seen as a feasibility trial, we assessed the reasons for the slow recruitment, aiming to facilitate the design of future randomized trials in aSAH patients with DCI or other critically ill patient categories.

Methods: Efficiency of recruitment and factors influencing recruitment were evaluated, based on the patient flow in the two centers that admitted most patients during the study period. We collected numbers of patients who were screened for eligibility, provided informed consent, and developed DCI and who eventually were randomized.

Results: Of the 862 aSAH patients admitted in the two centers during the course of the trial, 479 (56%) were eligible for trial participation of whom 404 (84%) were asked for informed consent. Of these, 188 (47%) provided informed consent, of whom 50 (27%) developed DCI. Of these 50 patients, 12 (24%) could not be randomized due to a logistic problem or a contraindication for induced hypertension emerging at the time of randomization, and four (8%) were missed for randomization. Eventually, 34 patients were randomized and received intervention or control treatment.

Conclusions: Enrolling patients in a randomized trial on a treatment strategy for DCI proved unfeasible: only 1 out of 25 admitted and 1 out of 14 eligible patients could eventually be randomized. These rates, caused by a large proportion of ineligible patients, a small proportion of patients providing informed consent, and a large proportion of patients with contraindications for treatment, can be used to make sample size calculations for future randomized trials in DCI or otherwise critically ill patients. Facilitating informed consent through improved provision of information on risks, possible benefits, and study procedures may result in improved enrolment.

Original language	English
Article number	193
Number of pages	9
Journal	Pilot and Feasibility Studies
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01155-4
Publication status	Published - 30 Aug 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding
The execution of the original trial (the HIMALAIA study) was supported by the Dutch Heart Foundation (grant 2009B046) and the Brain Foundation Netherlands (grant 2009(1)-72). For the current study, no additional funding was received. The funding bodies had no role in the design of the studies, nor in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, or the writing of the manuscript.

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Gathier, C. S., van der Jagt, M., HIMALAIA Study Grp, van den Bergh, W. M., Dankbaar, J. W., Rinkel, G. J. E., & Slooter, A. J. C. (2022). Slow recruitment in the HIMALAIA study: lessons for future clinical trials in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage based on feasibility data. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 8(1), [193]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01155-4

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title = "Slow recruitment in the HIMALAIA study: lessons for future clinical trials in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage based on feasibility data",

abstract = "Background: Our randomized clinical trial on induced hypertension in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) was halted prematurely due to unexpected slow recruitment rates. This raised new questions regarding recruitment feasibility. As our trial can therefore be seen as a feasibility trial, we assessed the reasons for the slow recruitment, aiming to facilitate the design of future randomized trials in aSAH patients with DCI or other critically ill patient categories.Methods: Efficiency of recruitment and factors influencing recruitment were evaluated, based on the patient flow in the two centers that admitted most patients during the study period. We collected numbers of patients who were screened for eligibility, provided informed consent, and developed DCI and who eventually were randomized.Results: Of the 862 aSAH patients admitted in the two centers during the course of the trial, 479 (56%) were eligible for trial participation of whom 404 (84%) were asked for informed consent. Of these, 188 (47%) provided informed consent, of whom 50 (27%) developed DCI. Of these 50 patients, 12 (24%) could not be randomized due to a logistic problem or a contraindication for induced hypertension emerging at the time of randomization, and four (8%) were missed for randomization. Eventually, 34 patients were randomized and received intervention or control treatment.Conclusions: Enrolling patients in a randomized trial on a treatment strategy for DCI proved unfeasible: only 1 out of 25 admitted and 1 out of 14 eligible patients could eventually be randomized. These rates, caused by a large proportion of ineligible patients, a small proportion of patients providing informed consent, and a large proportion of patients with contraindications for treatment, can be used to make sample size calculations for future randomized trials in DCI or otherwise critically ill patients. Facilitating informed consent through improved provision of information on risks, possible benefits, and study procedures may result in improved enrolment.",

author = "Gathier, {Celine S.} and {van der Jagt}, Mathieu and {HIMALAIA Study Grp} and {van den Bergh}, {Walter M.} and Dankbaar, {Jan Willem} and Rinkel, {Gabriel J. E.} and Slooter, {Arjen J. C.} and R. Dammers and Diederik Dippel and {van Kooten}, Fop and {van der Lugt}, Aad",

note = "Funding The execution of the original trial (the HIMALAIA study) was supported by the Dutch Heart Foundation (grant 2009B046) and the Brain Foundation Netherlands (grant 2009(1)-72). For the current study, no additional funding was received. The funding bodies had no role in the design of the studies, nor in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, or the writing of the manuscript.",

year = "2022",

month = aug,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1186/s40814-022-01155-4",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Pilot and Feasibility Studies",

issn = "2055-5784",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",

number = "1",

}

Gathier, CS, van der Jagt, M, HIMALAIA Study Grp, van den Bergh, WM, Dankbaar, JW, Rinkel, GJE & Slooter, AJC 2022, 'Slow recruitment in the HIMALAIA study: lessons for future clinical trials in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage based on feasibility data', Pilot and Feasibility Studies, vol. 8, no. 1, 193. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01155-4

Slow recruitment in the HIMALAIA study : lessons for future clinical trials in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage based on feasibility data. / Gathier, Celine S.; van der Jagt, Mathieu; HIMALAIA Study Grp et al.

In: Pilot and Feasibility Studies, Vol. 8, No. 1, 193, 30.08.2022.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Slow recruitment in the HIMALAIA study

T2 - lessons for future clinical trials in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage based on feasibility data

AU - Gathier, Celine S.

AU - van der Jagt, Mathieu

AU - HIMALAIA Study Grp

AU - van den Bergh, Walter M.

AU - Dankbaar, Jan Willem

AU - Rinkel, Gabriel J. E.

AU - Slooter, Arjen J. C.

AU - Dammers, R.

AU - Dippel, Diederik

AU - van Kooten, Fop

AU - van der Lugt, Aad

N1 - Funding The execution of the original trial (the HIMALAIA study) was supported by the Dutch Heart Foundation (grant 2009B046) and the Brain Foundation Netherlands (grant 2009(1)-72). For the current study, no additional funding was received. The funding bodies had no role in the design of the studies, nor in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, or the writing of the manuscript.

PY - 2022/8/30

Y1 - 2022/8/30

N2 - Background: Our randomized clinical trial on induced hypertension in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) was halted prematurely due to unexpected slow recruitment rates. This raised new questions regarding recruitment feasibility. As our trial can therefore be seen as a feasibility trial, we assessed the reasons for the slow recruitment, aiming to facilitate the design of future randomized trials in aSAH patients with DCI or other critically ill patient categories.Methods: Efficiency of recruitment and factors influencing recruitment were evaluated, based on the patient flow in the two centers that admitted most patients during the study period. We collected numbers of patients who were screened for eligibility, provided informed consent, and developed DCI and who eventually were randomized.Results: Of the 862 aSAH patients admitted in the two centers during the course of the trial, 479 (56%) were eligible for trial participation of whom 404 (84%) were asked for informed consent. Of these, 188 (47%) provided informed consent, of whom 50 (27%) developed DCI. Of these 50 patients, 12 (24%) could not be randomized due to a logistic problem or a contraindication for induced hypertension emerging at the time of randomization, and four (8%) were missed for randomization. Eventually, 34 patients were randomized and received intervention or control treatment.Conclusions: Enrolling patients in a randomized trial on a treatment strategy for DCI proved unfeasible: only 1 out of 25 admitted and 1 out of 14 eligible patients could eventually be randomized. These rates, caused by a large proportion of ineligible patients, a small proportion of patients providing informed consent, and a large proportion of patients with contraindications for treatment, can be used to make sample size calculations for future randomized trials in DCI or otherwise critically ill patients. Facilitating informed consent through improved provision of information on risks, possible benefits, and study procedures may result in improved enrolment.

AB - Background: Our randomized clinical trial on induced hypertension in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) was halted prematurely due to unexpected slow recruitment rates. This raised new questions regarding recruitment feasibility. As our trial can therefore be seen as a feasibility trial, we assessed the reasons for the slow recruitment, aiming to facilitate the design of future randomized trials in aSAH patients with DCI or other critically ill patient categories.Methods: Efficiency of recruitment and factors influencing recruitment were evaluated, based on the patient flow in the two centers that admitted most patients during the study period. We collected numbers of patients who were screened for eligibility, provided informed consent, and developed DCI and who eventually were randomized.Results: Of the 862 aSAH patients admitted in the two centers during the course of the trial, 479 (56%) were eligible for trial participation of whom 404 (84%) were asked for informed consent. Of these, 188 (47%) provided informed consent, of whom 50 (27%) developed DCI. Of these 50 patients, 12 (24%) could not be randomized due to a logistic problem or a contraindication for induced hypertension emerging at the time of randomization, and four (8%) were missed for randomization. Eventually, 34 patients were randomized and received intervention or control treatment.Conclusions: Enrolling patients in a randomized trial on a treatment strategy for DCI proved unfeasible: only 1 out of 25 admitted and 1 out of 14 eligible patients could eventually be randomized. These rates, caused by a large proportion of ineligible patients, a small proportion of patients providing informed consent, and a large proportion of patients with contraindications for treatment, can be used to make sample size calculations for future randomized trials in DCI or otherwise critically ill patients. Facilitating informed consent through improved provision of information on risks, possible benefits, and study procedures may result in improved enrolment.

U2 - 10.1186/s40814-022-01155-4

DO - 10.1186/s40814-022-01155-4

M3 - Article

VL - 8

JO - Pilot and Feasibility Studies

JF - Pilot and Feasibility Studies

SN - 2055-5784

IS - 1

M1 - 193

ER -

Slow recruitment in the HIMALAIA study: lessons for future clinical trials in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage based on feasibility data

Abstract

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