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Patel VC, McPhail MJ, Uddin R, Jafari H, Lawrence V, Le Boutillier C, Shearer J, Yaziji N, Cape A, Ahmed H, Ward C, Walsh P, Besly K, Zamalloa A, Kelly J, Carter B. Beta-blockers or Placebo for Primary Prophylaxis (BOPPP) of oesophageal varices: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 2024; 25:265. [PMID: 38627804 PMCID: PMC11022376 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08063-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver disease is within the top five causes of premature death in adults. Deaths caused by complications of cirrhosis continue to rise, whilst deaths related to other non-liver disease areas are declining. Portal hypertension is the primary sequelae of cirrhosis and is associated with the development of variceal haemorrhage, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and infection, collectively termed hepatic decompensation, which leads to hospitalisation and mortality. It remains uncertain whether administering a non-selective beta-blocker (NSBB), specifically carvedilol, at an earlier stage, i.e. when oesophageal varices are small, can prevent VH and reduce all-cause decompensation (ACD). METHODS/DESIGN The BOPPP trial is a pragmatic, multicentre, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded, randomised controlled trial (RCT) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Patients aged 18 years or older with cirrhosis and small oesophageal varices that have never bled will be recruited, subject to exclusion criteria. The trial aims to enrol 740 patients across 55 hospitals in the UK. Patients are allocated randomly on a 1:1 ratio to receive either carvedilol 6.25 mg (a NSBB) or a matched placebo, once or twice daily, for 36 months, to attain adequate power to determine the effectiveness of carvedilol in preventing or reducing ACD. The primary outcome is the time to first decompensating event. It is a composite primary outcome made up of variceal haemorrhage (VH, new or worsening ascites, new or worsening hepatic encephalopathy (HE), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), hepatorenal syndrome, an increase in Child-Pugh grade by 1 grade or MELD score by 5 points, and liver-related mortality. Secondary outcomes include progression to medium or large oesophageal varices, development of gastric, duodenal, or ectopic varices, participant quality of life, healthcare costs and transplant-free survival. DISCUSSION The BOPPP trial aims to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of carvedilol in patients with cirrhosis and small oesophageal varices to determine whether this non-selective beta-blocker can prevent or reduce hepatic decompensation. There is clinical equipoise on whether intervening in cirrhosis, at an earlier stage of portal hypertension, with NSBB therapy is beneficial. Should the trial yield a positive result, we anticipate that the administration and use of carvedilol will become widespread with pathways developed to standardise the administration of the medication in primary care. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The trial has been approved by the National Health Service (NHS) Research Ethics Committee (REC) (reference number: 19/YH/0015). The results of the trial will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Participants will be informed of the results via the BOPPP website ( www.boppp-trial.org ) and partners in the British Liver Trust (BLT) organisation. TRIAL REGISTRATION EUDRACT reference number: 2018-002509-78. ISRCTN reference number: ISRCTN10324656. Registered on April 24 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal C Patel
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
- Institute of Liver Studies, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
- The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research, 111 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NT, UK.
| | - Mark J McPhail
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Liver Studies, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ruhama Uddin
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Hassan Jafari
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- King's Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience,, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Vanessa Lawrence
- Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Clair Le Boutillier
- Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Division of Methodologies, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | - James Shearer
- Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nahel Yaziji
- Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Angela Cape
- King's Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience,, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Haroon Ahmed
- Cardiff University, Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Peter Walsh
- British Liver Trust, Venta Court, Winchester, UK
| | - Kevin Besly
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ane Zamalloa
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Joanna Kelly
- King's Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience,, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ben Carter
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- King's Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience,, King's College London, London, UK
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Le Boutillier C, Saratzis A, Saha P, Benson R, Bridgwood B, Watson E, Lawrence V. Factors that influence the feasibility and implementation of a complex intervention to improve the treatment of peripheral arterial disease in primary and secondary care: a qualitative exploration of patient and provider perspectives. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e066883. [PMID: 36690397 PMCID: PMC9872459 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our aim was to examine the feasibility and implementation of a complex intervention to improve the care of patients with peripheral arterial disease (the LEGS intervention) from the perspective of patients, general practitioners and secondary care clinicians. DESIGN A qualitative study involving semistructured individual interviews with patients and providers to gain an understanding of the feasibility of the LEGS intervention as well the barriers and facilitators to implementation in secondary and primary care. SETTING Primary and secondary care settings across two National Health Service Trusts. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-five semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with (1) patients who had received the intervention (n=11), (2) secondary care clinicians responsible for delivering the intervention (n=8) and (3) general practitioners (n=6). ANALYSIS Data were initially analysed using inductive descriptive thematic analysis. The consolidated framework for implementation research was then used as a matrix to explore patterns in the data and to map connections between the three participant groups. Lastly, interpretive analysis allowed for refining, and a final coding frame was developed. RESULTS Four overarching themes were identified: (1) the potential to make a difference, (2) a solution to address the gap in no man's land, (3), prioritising and making it happen and (4) personalised information and supportive conversations for taking on the advice. The impetus for prioritising and delivering the intervention was further driven by its flexibility and adaptability to be tailored to the individual and to the environment. CONCLUSIONS The LEGS intervention can be tailored for use at early and late stages of peripheral arterial disease, provides an opportunity to meet patient needs and can be used to promote shared working across the primary-secondary care interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clair Le Boutillier
- Department of Health Services & Population Research, King's College London, London, UK
- Division of Methodologies, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Prakash Saha
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | | | - Emma Watson
- University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- NIHR Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Vanessa Lawrence
- Department of Health Services & Population Research, King's College London, London, UK
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