Childhood Asthma Research and Education (CARE) Network Trial - Best Add-On Therapy Giving Effective Response (BADGER)

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose Asthma is a common, serious illness among children in the United States. While a low dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may effectively control symptoms, some children may require additional medications to maintain adequate asthma control. This study compares the effectiveness of a higher dose of ICS, ICS combined with a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) medication, and ICS combined with a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) medication at reducing the impact and severity of asthma exacerbations that occur in children with mild to moderate persistent asthma.
ConditionAsthma
InterventionDrug: fluticasone propionate + montelukast
Drug: fluticasone propionate
Drug: fluticasone propionate + salmeterol
PhasePhase 3
SponsorMilton S. Hershey Medical Center
Responsible PartyMilton S. Hershey Medical Center
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT00395304
First ReceivedOctober 31, 2006
Last UpdatedFebruary 24, 2013
Last verifiedFebruary 2013

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateOctober 31, 2006
Last Updated DateFebruary 24, 2013
Start DateMarch 2007
Estimated Primary Completion DateDecember 2011
Current Primary Outcome MeasuresThe Number of Participants With a Differential Response to the Three Step-up Therapies Based on Fixed Threshold Criteria for the Following Three Asthma Control Measures: Use of Oral Prednisone for Acute Asthma Exacerbations, Asthma Control Days and FEV1. [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]One treatment period was ranked as better than another if the total amount of prednisone received during the period was at least 180 mg less, if the number of annualized asthma-control days during the final 12 weeks of the period was increased by at least 31 days, or if the FEV1 at the end of the period was at least 5% higher. If the prednisone threshold was met, then we ignored the number of asthmacontrol days and the FEV1. If the threshold for asthma-control days was met, then we ignored the FEV1. Otherwise, the order of response was determined by the FEV1.
Current Secondary Outcome Measures
  • Pre-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1) [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Post-bronchodilator Forced FEV1 [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • FEV1/FVC [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Morning Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Evening PEFR [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • PEFR Variability [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Impulse Oscillometry [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Methacholine PC20 [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Exhaled Nitric Oxide [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Asthma Control Test [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Asthma Quality of Life [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Time Until First Asthma Exacerbation [Time Frame: Measured during the last 12 weeks of each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Adverse Events [Time Frame: Measured during each 16-week treatment period] [Designated as safety issue: Yes]

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleChildhood Asthma Research and Education (CARE) Network Trial - Best Add-On Therapy Giving Effective Response (BADGER)
Official TitleChildhood Asthma Research and Education (CARE) Network Trial - Best Add-On Therapy Giving Effective Response (BADGER)
Brief Summary
Asthma is a common, serious illness among children in the United States. While a low dose of
inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may effectively control symptoms, some children may require
additional medications to maintain adequate asthma control. This study compares the
effectiveness of a higher dose of ICS, ICS combined with a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA)
medication, and ICS combined with a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) medication at
reducing the impact and severity of asthma exacerbations that occur in children with mild to
moderate persistent asthma.
Detailed Description
Almost 9 million children in the United States have asthma, and it is a leading cause of
hospitalizations and school absenteeism. Common asthma symptoms include wheezing, shortness
of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. While there is no cure for asthma, most children
who receive proper treatment are able to control symptoms and lead a normal life. Low doses
of ICS are commonly prescribed to prevent symptoms and keep asthma under control. While this
is usually sufficient to prevent asthma attacks, some children do not respond well to low
dose ICS alone. For these children, their asthma symptoms may be more effectively controlled
by either receiving a higher dose of ICS or receiving LABA or LTRA medications in
combination with a low dose of ICS. Both LABA and LTRA medications are used to help control
moderate to severe asthma. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a
high dose of ICS versus a low dose of ICS plus either LABA or LTRA medication at improving
asthma control and reducing the severity of symptoms that occur in children with mild to
moderate persistent asthma.

This study began with an 8-week screening period during which participants were monitored
while they used an inhaler with a low dose of ICS medication. During this time, participants
also attended one or two study visits. At each visit, participants underwent a physical
examination, exhaled nitric oxide analysis, and lung function and airway pressure testing.
After enrollment criteria were met, participants underwent these same evaluations again, and
they completed questionnaires to assess asthma control, quality of life, and home
environmental factors. Blood was collected and a methacholine challenge test was completed,
which artificially triggers an asthma attack to determine the severity of an individual's
asthma. Participants then were randomly assigned to one of six treatment sequences, each of
which includes the following three regimens in a different order:

- Low dose of ICS and salmeterol, a LABA medication

- Low dose of ICS and montelukast, a LTRA medication

- Double dose of ICS

Each treatment period lasted 16 weeks, with study visits occurring weekly. A physical
examination, blood collection, lung function and airway pressure testing, a methacholine
challenge test, and questionnaires occurred at selected visits. Throughout the study,
participants recorded asthma symptoms, peak expiratory flow rates, and rescue medication
usage in a daily diary. The entire length of the study did not exceed 56 weeks.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 3
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
ConditionAsthma
InterventionDrug: fluticasone propionate + montelukast
Dry-powder inhaler fluticasone 100 mcg bid (Flovent Diskus®, GlaxoSmithKline) plus Montelukast 5 or 10 mg qd (Singulair®, Merck)
Other Names:
Flovent Diskus® + Singulair®Drug: fluticasone propionate
Dry-powder inhaler fluticasone 250 mcg bid (Flovent Diskus®, GlaxoSmithKline)
Other Names:
Flovent Diskus®Drug: fluticasone propionate + salmeterol
Dry-powder inhaler fluticasone + salmeterol combination 100 mcg/50 mcg bid (Advair Diskus®, GlaxoSmithKline)
Other Names:
Advair Diskus®
Study Arm (s)Experimental: Crossover Sequences
Sequence 1: fluticasone propionate + montelukast, followed by fluticasone propionate, followed by fluticasone propionate + salmeterol
Sequence 2: fluticasone propionate, followed by fluticasone + salmeterol, followed by fluticasone propionate + montelukast
Sequence 3: fluticasone propionate + salmeterol, followed by fluticasone propionate + montelukast, followed by fluticasone propionate
Sequence 4: fluticasone propionate + montelukast, followed by fluticasone propionate + salmeterol, followed by fluticasone propionate
Sequence 5: fluticasone propionate + salmeterol, followed by fluticasone propionate, followed by fluticasone propionate + montelukast
Sequence 6: fluticasone propionate, followed by fluticasone propionate + montelukast, followed by fluticasone propionate + salmeterol

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusCompleted
Estimated Enrollment182
Estimated Completion DateDecember 2011
Estimated Primary Completion DateDecember 2011
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Able to perform reproducible spirometry according to American Thoracic Society (ATS)
criteria

- History of asthma symptoms (e.g., cough, wheezing, shortness of breath) and meets at
least one of the following criteria:

1. Naïve to controller therapy and meeting National Asthma Education and Prevention
Program (NAEPP) criteria for mild-moderate persistent asthma (symptoms at least
2 days per week and/or night-time awakenings due to asthma at least 2 nights per
month)

2. Current uncontrolled asthma (meets NAEPP criteria for mild-moderate persistent
asthma) while receiving an ICS dose greater than or equal to 200 ug per day of
fluticasone equivalent or some form of non-ICS controller therapy (e.g.,
montelukast, theophylline, cromolyn)

3. Asthma is currently under control while receiving an ICS dose between 300 to 400
ug per day of fluticasone equivalent and willing to consider changing current
treatment to monotherapy with one dose of ICS (current standard of care)

4. Asthma is currently under control while receiving some form of combination
therapy, such as ICS less than or equal to 200 ug per day of fluticasone
equivalent in addition to a non-ICS controller therapy (e.g., LABA, montelukast,
theophylline, cromolyn), and willing to consider changing current treatment to
monotherapy with one dose of ICS (current standard of care)

- FEV1 reversibility of at least 12% following bronchodilator administration (4 puffs)
at study visit 1. Individuals will need to hold albuterol, montelukast, theophylline,
ipratropium bromide (or other anticholinergics) and LABAs per study instructions
prior to reversibility testing. If an individual is receiving these types of
medications prior to study visit 1, he/she may be brought back to the clinical center
within 1 week following appropriate medication withholding to attempt qualification
by reversibility criteria. If the individual does not meet this requirement, they may
qualify for enrollment if their PC20 methacholine FEV1 is less than or equal to 12.5
mg/ml at the time of randomization. If FEV1 is less than 70%, thus precluding the
methacholine challenge at this visit, then completion of the visit will be postponed
several days and an additional attempt to obtain a methacholine challenge test will
be made. If the methacholine challenge still cannot be performed, an individual may
still qualify by reversibility criteria at this visit.

- History of clinical varicella or varicella vaccine; individuals needing the vaccine
may receive it from their primary care physician prior to study entry

- Ability of parent to provide informed consent; verbal assent must be obtained from
children less than 7 years of age and written assent must be obtained from children
between 7 and 18 years of age

- If female, willing to use an effective form of contraception

Prior to being randomly assigned to a treatment group, participants must meet the
following criteria to remain in the study:

- Lack of acceptable asthma control during the 8-week screening period as defined by
the following criteria:

1) On average, on more than 2 days per week, one or all of the following:

1. Diary-reported symptoms

2. The use of inhaled bronchodilator (not including pre-exercise)

3. Peak flows in the yellow zone (less than 80% of post bronchodilator PEF value
obtained at study visit 1) OR

- On average, more than 1 night-time awakening due to asthma, during each 2-week period

Exclusion Criteria:

- Corticosteroid treatment for any condition prior to study entry within the following
defined timepoints:

1. Oral - Use within 2 weeks of the screening visit

2. Injectable - Use within 2 weeks of the screening visit

3. Nasal - May be used at any time during the study at the discretion of the study
investigator or primary care physician

- Current or prior use of medications known to significantly interact with
corticosteroid disposition (within a 2-week period of study visit 1), including but
not limited to carbamazepine, erythromycin or other macrolide antibiotics,
phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, or ketoconazole

- Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 less than 60% predicted at study visit 1

- More than three hospitalizations for asthma in the year prior to study entry

- Presence of chronic or active lung disease other than asthma

- Significant medical illness other than asthma, including thyroid disease, diabetes
mellitus, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease, hepatic disease, or concurrent
medical problems that could require oral corticosteroids during the study or would
place the participant at increased risk while participating in the study

- History of cataracts, glaucoma, or any other medical disorder associated with an
adverse effect to corticosteroids

- Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms not controlled by standard medical therapy

- History of significant asthma exacerbation within 2 weeks of study visit 1 or more
than 5 courses of systemic corticosteroids in the year prior to study entry

- History of a life-threatening asthma exacerbation requiring intubation, mechanical
ventilation, or resulting in a hypoxic seizure within the 5 years prior to study
entry

- History of adverse reactions to ICS, LTRA, or LABA preparations or any of their
ingredients

- Receiving hyposensitization therapy other than an established maintenance regimen
(i.e., continuous regimen for at least 3 months prior to study entry)

- Pregnant or breastfeeding

- Inability to perform study procedures

- Refusal to consent to a genotype evaluation

- Inability of the child to ingest the study drug

- Cigarette smoking or smokeless tobacco use in the year prior to study entry

- Current participation or participation in the month prior to study entry in another
investigational drug trial

- Evidence that the family may be unreliable or nonadherent, or may move from the
clinical center area before study completion
GenderBoth
Ages6 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsNot Provided
Location CountriesUnited States

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT00395304
Other Study ID Numbers444
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeYes
Information Provided ByMilton S. Hershey Medical Center
Study SponsorMilton S. Hershey Medical Center
CollaboratorsNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Investigators Principal Investigator: David T. Mauger, PhD Penn State College of MedicinePrincipal Investigator: Stanley J. Szefler, MD, PhD National Jewish HealthPrincipal Investigator: Robert F. Lemanske, Jr., MD University of Wisconsin, MadisonPrincipal Investigator: Robert S. Zeiger, MD, PhD Kaiser Permanente Medical CenterPrincipal Investigator: Robert C. Strunk, MD Washington University School of MedicinePrincipal Investigator: Fernando D. Martinez, MD University of Arizona College of MedicineStudy Chair: Lynn M. Taussig, MD University of Denver
Verification DateFebruary 2013

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

University of Arizona College of Medicine
Tucson, Arizona, United States, 85724
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
San Diego, California, United States, 92111
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
Denver, Colorado, United States, 80206
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53792