Early Intervention in Cystic Fibrosis Exacerbation (eICE)

University of Washington, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) develop chronic lung infections and suffer intermittent acute exacerbations of their lung disease. Most exacerbations are not treated until they cause increased symptoms, and patients seek medical attention. This proposal details a study of home lung function and symptom monitoring. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) home monitoring, in which spirometry and symptoms are recorded; or 2) standard care. The home monitoring data will be transmitted electronically to the study center. If spirometry or symptoms have deteriorated substantially, treatment for a CF pulmonary exacerbation will be initiated. It is anticipated that use of home monitoring will lead to earlier, more reliable recognition and treatment of exacerbations, which will translate into better lung health.

Individuals with CF develop chronic lung infections and suffer intermittent exacerbations, which require intensive treatment with antibiotics. The most common and useful objective measure of CF lung disease is spirometry. Chronic treatment of CF lung disease requires airway clearance, mucolytics and antibiotics. These treatments have been quite successful and there is evidence that early, aggressive treatment of lung disease results in better outcomes. Unfortunately, most exacerbations are not treated until they cause pronounced deterioration in symptoms, which prompts patients to seek medical attention. Self-monitoring of clinical status has improved outcomes in many other disorders such as asthma, diabetes mellitus, and lung transplantation. This is an important, randomized trial of home lung function and symptom monitoring in CF. Subjects will be assigned to one of two groups: 1) Home monitoring, in which spirometry and symptoms are recorded daily; or 2) Standard Care. The home monitoring data will be transmitted electronically twice weekly to the study center, where the results will be reviewed. If spirometry or symptoms have deteriorated substantially below baseline, treatment for a CF pulmonary exacerbation will be initiated. It is anticipated that use of home monitoring will translate into better clinical outcomes. We will test the hypothesis that if pulmonary exacerbations are identified and treated earlier than the current standard of care, the progression of lung disease will be slowed.

subjects in the intervention arm will measure spirometry and CF symptoms with the use of a handheld device.

The primary outcome variable is FEV1 which will be obtained at quarterly study visits. The primary analysis will use a linear mixed effects model incorporating all FEV1 measurements to estimate the 52-week change in FEV1

Change in CF respiratory symptoms as measured by the CFRSD. The CFRSD consists of 8 items which quantify symptom severity for the previous 24 hours to capture the magnitude of symptoms in stable CF, during medically treated CF exacerbations, and during recovery from an exacerbation. The CFRSD also includes emotional and activity impacts. Emotional impacts include frustration, sadness/depression, irritability, worry, and difficulty sleeping. Activity impacts include time spent sitting or lying down, reduction of usual activities, and missing school or work. will be analyzed using a linear mixed effects model incorporating baseline randomization factors FEV1 (<50%, 50-75%, and >75% predicted) and age (14-18 & 19+), treatment group, time (in weeks) and the interaction between treatment and time. The range of scores is 8 to 40 with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.

Change in Health Related Quality of Life Scores as Assessed by the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire Revised (CFQ-R) (Respiratory Subscale Only(

Change in health related quality of life as measured by the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire revised (CFQ-R)will be analyzed using a linear mixed effects model incorporating baseline randomization factors FEV1 (<50%, 50-75%, and >75% predicted) and age (14-18 & 19+), treatment group, time (in weeks) and the interaction between treatment and time. The CFQ-R measures functioning in a variety of domains, including Physical Functioning, Vitality, Health Perceptions, Respiratory Symptoms, Treatment Burden, Role Functioning, Emotional Functioning, and Social Functioning. Only the respiratory subscale of the the CFQ-R was evaluated. This ranges from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating better respiratory quality of life. A negative number indicates a decrease in respiratory quality of life.

Change in treatment burden as measured by the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire revised (CFQ-R)will be analyzed using a linear mixed effects model incorporating baseline randomization factors FEV1 (<50%, 50-75%, and >75% predicted) and age (14-18 & 19+), treatment group, time (in weeks) and the interaction between treatment and time. Scores range from 0-100 with higher scores indicating less treatment burden.

Change in prevalence of resistant species of bacteria (Methicillin Resistant S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkolderia cepacia, Stenotrophomona maltophilia, Achromobacterxylosoxidans) in sputum between baseline and final visit (Visit 5 or early withdrawal) will be summarized by treatment group.

Adverse event rates will be coded by body system and MedDRA classification term. Adverse events will be tabulated by treatment group and will include the number of subjects for whom the event occurred, the rate of occurrence, and the severity and relationship to study participation or study procedures.

Inclusion Criteria: CF diagnosis confirmed with sweat test, abnormal nasal potential difference and/or genetic testing Age 14 and older Able to perform spirometry Clinically stable without antibiotic treatment for a pulmonary exacerbation in the two weeks prior to the screening visit Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) greater than 25% of predicted at screening Exclusion Criteria: History of solid organ transplant Participation in any interventional trial within the last 30 days Inability to speak and read the English language well enough to complete questionnaires Colonization with Burkholderia cepacia genomovar III within the last 24 months Currently receiving antimicrobial treatment specifically used to treat active non-tuberculosis mycobacterium Confirmed diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) as defined by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) guidance document that is being actively treated

VanDevanter EJ, Heltshe SL, Skalland M, Lechtzin N, Nichols D, Goss CH. The effect of oral and intravenous antimicrobials on pulmonary exacerbation recovery in cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 2021 Nov;20(6):932-936. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2021.02.012. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Lechtzin N, Mayer-Hamblett N, West NE, Allgood S, Wilhelm E, Khan U, Aitken ML, Ramsey BW, Boyle MP, Mogayzel PJ Jr, Gibson RL, Orenstein D, Milla C, Clancy JP, Antony V, Goss CH; eICE Study Team. Home Monitoring of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis to Identify and Treat Acute Pulmonary Exacerbations. eICE Study Results. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017 Nov 1;196(9):1144-1151. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201610-2172OC.