Hanstedt, Germany

Bicarbonate for In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Safety of Ibuprofen After Major Orthopaedic Surgeries

Hip and knee arthroplasty surgeries are some of the most frequently performed planned procedures in the western world. Multimodal analgesic treatment is the leading analgesic treatment principle, with NSAIDs as an essential part. Ibuprofen, the most frequently prescribed NSAID, is effective in reducing acute postoperative pain. However, ibuprofen may be associated with various serious adverse events, including death, cardiovascular morbidity, gastrointestinal ulcer, and renal impairment. The balance between beneficial and harmful effects of a short-term postoperative treatment with ibuprofen after elective hip and knee arthroplasty is unknown. Objectives: to assess the adverse events of an eight-day treatment of postoperative pain with ibuprofen in patients undergoing elective primary hip or knee arthroplasty. Intervention: the participants will be randomized in two groups: a) oral ibuprofen 400 mg 3 times daily for eight days. b) identical oral placebo 3 times daily for eight days. Design and trial size: PERISAFE is a randomized, placebo-controlled multicentre trial with centralized computer-generated allocation sequence and allocation concealment with unknown block size. Patients, investigators, assessors, caregivers, data-managers, writers of the manuscript, and statisticians will be blinded. A total of 2904 eligible patients are needed to detect or discard an effect corresponding to a relative risk reduction of 1/3 with an acceptable risk of type I error of 5 % and of type II error of 20 %, and a proportion of the composite outcome of serious adverse events of 8% in the experimental group. Sub-studies: - One-year follow-up on the composite primary outcome. - Subgroup analysis on predictors of chronic pain and opioid consumption at 90-days, and one-year after surgery. - Coherence of preoperative use of diuretics, ACE-inhibitors or Angiotensin-II-antagonists and postoperative risk of renal failure.

A Study of Population and Sex-specific Troponin Cutoffs for Ruling Out Acute Myocardial Infarction

The present use of non-sex specific diagnostic cut-off levels of troponins in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (MI) leads to under-diagnostication of acute MI in women and over-diagnostication in men. The purpose of this study is to document this through a randomized nationwide clinical implementation of population and sex-specific cut-off levels. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is globally the leading cause of mortality for men and women. The latest consensus statement defines myocardial infarction as 1) a rise and/or fall in cardiac troponins with 2) at least one value above the 99th percentile upper reference limit (URL) in the context of 3) symptoms or clinical evidence of myocardial ischemia. Thus, levels of cardiac troponins play a key role in the diagnostic work-up in general. Currently, uniform manufacturer-provided URLs, defined by the 99th percentile of cardiac troponins in a healthy reference population, is applied in Danish hospitals as a diagnostic cut-off for acute MI for both men and women. Lower levels of cardiac troponins are seen in healthy women as compared to healthy men, i.e. twice as high levels are seen in men. On this basis the clinical use of one uniform 99th percentile URL for cardiac troponins - i.e. applying the same diagnostic levels for men and women - may lead to a systematic under-diagnostication of acute MI in women and potentially an over-diagnostication of acute MI in men. Accordingly, the use of sex-specific 99th percentile URL of cardiac troponins are now recommended in recent guidelines by international cardiological societies, but this remains to be introduced in clinical practice. The 99th percentile URLs for cardiac troponins currently used in Danish Hospitals are provided by the manufacturer of each specific assay based on blood samples from a healthy reference population collected by the manufacturer. Studies have shown that the 99th percentile value is dependent on patient sex as well as on the reference population selected and the definition for "healthy" used in these studies. It is well known that the 99th percentile URL should stem from a local reference population. This recommendation has never been implemented in Denmark. The overall purpose of the study is to evaluate the clinical effect of implementing population and sex-specific 99th percentile URL for cardiac troponins in Denmark. To determine the sex-specific 99th percentile URLs of troponins based on a healthy Danish reference population, blood samples from healthy Danish blood donors, were analyzed using one troponin T assay and four troponin I assays. Second, the DANSPOT study is a nationwide cluster-randomized trial with "stepped-wedge" design with participation of all 22 Danish hospital laboratories and associated departments of cardiology. With one-month intervals, each of 22 centers are randomized to shift from the presently applied uniform 99th percentile URL of troponin to our newly determined population and sex-specific 99th percentiles URLs. Each patient is followed in Danish registries for 12 months after first admission. The clinical significance of sex-specific 99th percentile URLs of troponin is poorly investigated and for the same reason not yet implemented in Denmark or many other countries. The basic hypothesis of the DANSPOT study is that the implementation of population and sex-specific 99th URLs for troponin, will ensure that the right patients receive the right treatment. The investigators expect to detect significantly more women with acute MI, theoretically resulting in a more accurate diagnosis and treatment of women and men with acute MI. This would be guideline-defining for implementing sex-specific cutoffs for cardiac troponin in Denmark as well as internationally as recommended in guidelines by professional cardiological societies.

NORDTREAT Prospective Study on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The primary aim is to identify molecular markers (e.g. in the blood and stools) for discrimination between individuals diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) inclusive Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and inflammatory bowel disease unclassified (IBD-U), and those without (non-IBD). Participants with suspected IBD at baseline, with various disease pathways, will be evaluated again using a 1-year cohort study. Diagnosis and clinical outcome will be evaluated at referral and after 1 year of observation. The secondary aims are, in addition to the molecular information, to investigate whether the inclusion of information on clinical and lifestyle factors as well as combination hereof (e.g. gene-environment interaction analyses) can improve the predictive potential of identifying IBD and distinguish the prognosis. Study design: A prospective Nordic multicenter study on prognostic factors for the diagnosis and characterization of IBD among patients referred to the hospital on suspicion of IBD. A panel of possible prognostic biomarkers for diagnostic purposes will be applied to all participants. Setting: All patients referred due to a suspicion of IBD to the departments of gastroenterology in Odense University Hospital, Svendborg Hospital, Vejle Hospital, Esbjerg Hospital and potentially Hospital of Southern Jutland, Aabenraa will be invited to take part in the study. Participants will be included from January 2022 for a 1-year period or until 800 participants in the Nordic study (up to 400 in Denmark) have been included. The follow-up period is one-year including visits and questionnaires and an additional nine years of follow-up by the use of register data. Biological material will be obtained four times for participants with IBD, at week-2/0, and 12, 26 and 52 after the diagnosis has been established. Participants where IBD is not established (non-IBD) will only have biological material obtained at baseline (that is visit -2/0) and will have a clinical interview after 52 weeks. All participants are treated according to standard clinical practice by the clinical departments. Clinical data consist of personal data, data on health and disease, lifestyle, laboratory measures, and disease activity scores including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), clinical assessments, and laboratory data. Each participant will fill out validated questionnaires on disease activity, quality of life, and lifestyle using electronic links. Data management: Study data registered by clinicians, study nurses and technicians will be stored in the web-based case report form (eCRF) Viedoc (Viedoc™, Uppsala, Sweden) or REDCap (Open Patient data Explorative Network (OPEN) at Odense University Hospital) for the diet questionnaire. The questionnaires are in Danish and the participants will have access to the questionnaires via an electronic link sent to their personal, electronic mailbox (REDCap) or via an investigator provided link to MyViedoc. All data will be stored in secure research storage facilities. Statistical methods: We will develop multivariable prediction models relating multiple predictors for a particular individual to the probability of or risk for the presence (diagnosis of IBD at baseline) or future occurrence (prognosis) of a particular outcome such as severe IBD within the first year. Predictors such as biomarkers are covariates, explored as prognostic factors (independent variables). The primary hypothesis is that the final biomarker will define the participant population into two groups each consisting of 50%: a biomarker positive group whereof 80% will be diagnosed with IBD and a biomarker negative group whereof 20% will be diagnosed with IBD. For a comparison of two independent binomial proportions using the likelihood ratio statistic with a Chi-square approximation with a two-sided significance level of 0.05, a total sample size of 800 assuming a ratio biomarker positivity-to-negativity of 1 to 1 has an approximate power of 100% when the proportions of being diagnosed with IBD are 0.8 and 0.2. If we assume that we will have 800 study participants, we will potentially ("rule of thumb") be able to build a statistical model with as many as 80 covariates in the multivariable model. The associations of the suspected important biomarkers with other variables will be tested with non-parametric tests: with Spearman rank correlation (rs) for continuous variables, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test or Kruskal-Wallis test, including a Wilcoxon-type test for trend across ordered groups where appropriate, for categorical variables. In general, logistic regression models will be used with individual marker as the exposure variables and the clinical response as the outcome (dependent variable). The analyses will be adjusted simultaneously for sex, age, and prescribed targeted therapy. Potential interaction between biomarker status (positive/negative) and specific drug type will be analyzed. Covariates (biomarkers) consist of various measures within genetics, transcriptomic, microbiomes, and proteomics. Sample size considerations: Assuming that biomarker positivity constitutes 50% of the individuals enrolled at baseline, if our event rate is 10% on average, a total sample size of 800 patients (i.e. 400 biomarker positive) we will have a very good statistical power (99.7%) to detect a difference between proportions having surgery of 10% points (15% and 5%, respectively). If we decide to split the data set into two (2×400 individuals), in order to first build the model, and subsequently validate it in the second independent dataset, we will have 91.8% statistical power to detect a difference between groups. If the prognostic value of our biomarkers is not that effective separating the number of patients with severe IBD at week 52, we will still have more than 90% power to detect a difference between biomarker groups of 6% points (e.g. 10% and 4%, respectively). Another consideration is the number of events (individuals having severe IBD at week 52) per variable (EPV) considered for inclusion in the multivariable model. For logistic regression modelling the EPV should be at least ten times the number of potential prognostic variables that could be included in the model. As a consequence of this logic, our expected sample size of 800 individuals (having 80 events) will, with reasonable confidence, allow us to create a multivariable model with up to 8 covariates simultaneously. Project organization: NORDTREAT is part of a larger Nordic project (DK, SE, NO and IS) where regular meetings will be held between the partners. Collaborative research and material transfer agreements will be conducted with the national and international collaborators. In addition to the scientific reporting of results, major findings with translational implications will be communicated to health professionals, patient organizations, public health policy makers, and to the general public through various media and news activities.

The Nordic IBD Treatment Strategy Trial

Identification of New Biomarkers to Promote Personalized Treatment of Patients With Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases

The Danish Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulation Study in Patients With Venous Thromboembolism (DANNOAC-VTE)

No randomized head-to-head comparison between the individual Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC) exists, but such data are warranted to evaluate if the four NOACs are equal in treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) without an additional cost of increased bleeding risk. Furthermore, classic randomized trials are highly selective, as elderly and/or fragile patients and patients with comorbidity are underrepresented. Therefore, there is a need of randomized trials that include a broader population of patients. The DANNOAC-VTE study is a nationwide cluster randomized cross-over study comparing efficacy and safety of the four NOACs, edoxaban, apixaban, rivaroxaban and dabigatran for oral anticoagulation in VTE across Danish hospitals. The aim of the present study is to: 1) examine if the four NOACs are equally effective in treatment of VTE without increasing the risk of major bleeding requiring hospitalization; 2) conduct a randomized study that includes elderly and fragile patients and patients with comorbidity that would otherwise not be included in a traditional randomized clinical trial. For a variety of reasons, Danish hospitals and clinicians often prefer one particular NOAC. This can make work simpler for the busy clinician, although there may also be economic advantages on a local or a regional larger scale. For a period of two years, this study will replace this individually or hospital preferred selection with a random selection. The hospitals and clinics that participate in this study will be randomly selected to primarily use one specific NOAC for 6 months at a time during a total period of two years. This only applies to patients with VTE that are selected by the physician to be eligible for NOAC treatment. VTE refers to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, or a combination of both. Endpoints - Primary efficacy outcome: a composite endpoint of new venous thromboembolism or all-cause death. - Secondary efficacy outcomes: Individually components of the primary endpoints; new venous thromboembolism or all-cause death. - Primary safety outcome: bleeding requiring hospitalization. - Other effect measures: 1. discontinuation of therapy. 2. adherence to therapy. 3. other reasons of admission to hospital than included in the primary and secondary endpoint. - Sensitivity analyses: 1. primary endpoint stratified by gender. 2. primary endpoint stratified by age (≤65, 65-75, >75 years of age). 3. primary endpoint stratified by levels of the CHA2DS2VASc score (0-1, 2-3, >3). 4. primary endpoint with exclusion of clusters with non-compliance greater than 20% of cluster randomization. 5. primary endpoint where the actual treatment is used instead of the allocated treatment. 6. primary safety endpoint stratified by HAS-BLED score. Information of endpoints and comorbidity is obtained from the Danish National Patient Register based on ICD-10 diagnostic codes and information of vital status and date of death will be obtained from the Central Person Register. Drug discontinuation and adherence will be examined using information from the Danish Registry of Medicinal Product Statistics. The prespecified endpoints will be evaluated after 6 months as intention-to-treat analysis. In addition, the prespecified endpoints will be evaluated after 12 months and 5 years. A cluster is defined as a hospital or a cardiology clinic. The Clusters will be enrolled in the study from 1. of April 2023 to 1. October 2023.

The Danish Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulation Study in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

No randomized head-to-head comparison between the individual Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC) exists, but such data are warranted to evaluate if the four NOACs are equal in stroke prevention without an additional cost of increased bleeding risk. Furthermore, classic randomized trials are highly selective, as elderly and/or fragile patients and patients with comorbidity are underrepresented. Therefore, there is a need of randomized trials that include a broader population of patients. The DANNOAC-AF study is a nationwide cluster randomized cross-over study comparing efficacy and safety of the four NOACs, edoxaban, apixaban, rivaroxaban and dabigatran for oral anticoagulation in non-valvular atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter across Danish hospitals and cardiology clinics. The aim of the present study is to: 1) examine if the four NOACs are equally effective in preventing strokes, death and hospitalizations without increasing the risk of major bleeding requiring hospitalization; 2) conduct a randomized study that includes elderly and fragile patients and patients with comorbidity that would otherwise not be included in a traditional randomized clinical trial. For a variety of reasons, Danish hospitals and clinicians often prefer one particular NOAC. This can make work simpler for the busy clinician, although there may also be economic advantages on a local or a regional larger scale. For a period of two years, this study will replace this individually preferred selection with a random selection. The hospitals and clinics that participate in this study will be randomly selected to primarily use one specific NOAC for 6 months at a time during a total period of two years. This only applies to patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter that are selected by the physician to be eligible for NOAC treatment. Endpoints - Primary efficacy outcome: a composite endpoint of stroke, myocardial infarction, thromboembolic event or all-cause death. - Secondary efficacy outcomes: Individually components of the primary endpoints; stroke, myocardial infarction, thromboembolism or all-cause death. - Primary safety outcome: bleeding requiring hospitalization. - Other effect measures: 1. discontinuation of therapy. 2. adherence to therapy. 3. other reasons of admission to hospital than included in the primary and secondary endpoint. - Sensitivity analyses: 1. primary endpoint stratified by gender. 2. primary endpoint stratified by age (≤65, 65-75, >75 years of age). 3. primary endpoint stratified by levels of the CHA2DS2VASc score (0-1, 2-3, >3). 4. primary endpoint with exclusion of clusters with non-compliance greater than 20% of cluster randomization. 5. primary endpoint where the actual treatment is used instead of the allocated treatment. 6. primary safety endpoint stratified by HAS-BLED score. Information of endpoints and comorbidity is obtained from the Danish National Patient Register based on ICD-10 diagnostic codes and information of vital status and date of death will be obtained from the Central Person Register. Drug discontinuation and adherence will be examined using information from the Danish Registry of Medicinal Product Statistics. The prespecified endpoints will be evaluated after 2 years as intention-to-treat analysis. In addition, the prespecified endpoints will be evaluated after 5 and 10 years. A cluster is defined as a hospital or a cardiology clinic. the clusters will be initiated in the study from 1. of April 2023 to 1. October 2023.

Safety Of ColoRectal Assessment and Tumor Evaluation by Colon Capsule Endoscopy

Care for Colon 2015

The Danish national colorectal cancer screening program includes all citizens aged 50-74 years, who are invited biennially to a fecal test for invisible blood in the stool. If the test is positive the citizen is invited for a colonoscopy. 90% of the test-positive undergo colonoscopy. The detected cancers are at a significant earlier stage and survival from screening detected cancer is higher. It is also expected that cancer incidence will drop due to removal of the advanced adenomas before they develop into cancer. Although initial results are positive, there is room for improvement. Additionally there are rare but serious complications to colonoscopy in the form of bleeding or bowel perforation. Through four years the investigators have tested the colon capsule endoscopy method, and find that the investigation is associated with significantly less discomfort and that the diagnostic ability to find polyps > 1 cm is better than colonoscopy.