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Acute BronchiolitisPhase 3SABRENCT01469845

The SABRE Trial of Hypertonic Saline in Acute Bronchiolitis

A Phase 3 study testing 3% hypertonic saline in people with Acute Bronchiolitis, run by Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust at 9 sites in United Kingdom.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Acute bronchiolitis is a common, distressing illness affecting children. A virus infects the lungs, and then the airways become blocked, leading to difficulties with breathing. It is the most common reason why children are admitted to hospital, with 1-3% of all children admitted to hospital during their first winter… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages Up to 12 monthsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Acute Bronchiolitis
What is being tested?
3% hypertonic saline
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
300 participants
Where
9 sitesUnited Kingdom
Study dates
Oct 2011to Jan 2014
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Up to 12 months
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Previously healthy infants under 1 year of age
  • Admitted to hospital with a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis, following the UK definition of an infant with an apparent viral respiratory tract infection associated with airways obstruction manifest by hyperinflation, tachypnoea and subcostal recession with widespread crepitations on auscultation
  • Requiring supplemental oxygen therapy on admission

Who cannot join

  • Wheezy bronchitis or asthma - children with an apparent viral respiratory infection and wheeze with no or occasional crepitations
  • Previous lower respiratory tract infections
  • Risk factors for severe disease [gestation <32 weeks, immunodeficiency, neurological and cardiac conditions, chronic lung disease]
  • Subjects where the carer's English is not fluent and translational services are not available
  • Requiring admission to high dependency or intensive care units at the time of recruitment

Trial locations and contacts

9 sites in 1 country.

9 sites in 1 country

United Kingdom9 sites
  • Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD9 6RJ

  • University Hospital of Wales

    Cardiff, South Wales, CF14 4XW

  • Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 5LT

  • Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

    Halifax, West Yorkshire

  • Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

    Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX

  • Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust Hospital

    Liverpool, Merseyside, L12 2AP

  • Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust

    Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S60 2UD

  • Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

    Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TH

  • University Hospital of North Staffordshire

    Stoke, North Staffordshire, ST4 6QG

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Hypertonic Saline in Acute Bronchiolitis: Randomised Controlled Trial and Economic Evaluation

Acute bronchiolitis is a common, distressing illness affecting children. A virus infects the lungs, and then the airways become blocked, leading to difficulties with breathing. It is the most common reason why children are admitted to hospital, with 1-3% of all children admitted to hospital during their first winter, creating enormous strains on NHS services. The majority of those admitted with the condition are under six months of age and the associated stress for parents is considerable. After forty years of research the best treatment we have is supportive care and oxygen.

Recent research suggests that salt water, sprayed as a mist so that the children can breathe it in ('nebulised 3% hypertonic saline') might help children with acute bronchiolitis. Scientists think that the salt water changes the mucus which blocks the airways so that it can be cleared more easily. Three small research studies all suggested that a child's time in hospital could be reduced by a quarter by using this treatment. If this was true, it would be good for children, their families and the children's wards trying to cope with the large numbers admitted with bronchiolitis every year.

To decide whether this treatment should be used throughout the NHS, we need to run a randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline in a large number of children. The trial will tell us if adding saline to usual care reduces distress in both children and parents, as well as whether it reduces the length of time they stay in hospital. We will then know if the treatment is the best thing for children with bronchiolitis and whether it provides the NHS with good value for money.

Being tested
3% hypertonic saline
Keywords
hospital admissions, acute bronchiolitis, under one year old, requiring oxygen therapy

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • 3% hypertonic salineDevice

    Also called mucoclear 3%

    4 ml dose to be administered every 6 hours

Study groups in NCT01469845
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
hypertonic saline and usual careActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Device: 3% hypertonic saline
usual care (oxygen therapy)Active comparatorNot described
Receives: Device: 3% hypertonic saline

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Time to 'fit for discharge'

    The primary objective was an analysis, to show if the addition of 3% hypertonic saline to usual care results in significant [25%] reduction in the duration of hospitalisation of infants admitted with acute bronchiolitis. This outcome was measured at 6 hourly intervals, with the first evaluation at time of randomisation.

    Measured: This was judged to be when the infant was feeding adequately [taking >75% of usual intake] and was in air with a saturation of at least 92% for 6 hours, to reflect clinical practice.

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Actual time to discharge

    The secondary objectives were assessments of the economic impact of such an intervention on both the NHS and parents, as well as quality of life and other health related outcomes assessed 28 days after entry to the study.

    Measured: This was measured from time to randomisation to the discharge time according to routine clinical guidelines.

  2. Readmission

    The secondary objectives were assessments of the economic impact of such an intervention on both the NHS and parents, as well as quality of life and other health related outcomes assessed 28 days after entry to the study.

    Measured: Within 28 days from randomisation

  3. health care utilisation

    The secondary objectives were assessments of the economic impact of such an intervention on both the NHS and parents, as well as quality of life and other health related outcomes assessed 28 days after entry to the study

    Measured: post-discharge and within 28 days from randomisation

  4. duration of respiratory symptoms

    The secondary objectives were assessments of the economic impact of such an intervention on both the NHS and parents, as well as quality of life and other health related outcomes assessed 28 days after entry to the study

    Measured: post discharge and within 28 days from randomisation

  5. Infant and parental quality of life using the Infant Toddler Quality of Life (ITQoL) questionnaire

    The secondary objectives were assessments of the economic impact of such an intervention on both the NHS and parents, as well as quality of life and other health related outcomes assessed 28 days after entry to the study

    Measured: 28 days following randomisation.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted10 Nov 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 2011
  3. Primary completionDec 2013
  4. Study completionJan 2014

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
300 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01469845
Sponsor's protocol ID
SCH/1/016
Other IDs
HTA09/91/22
Acronym
SABRE
Status last verified
Mar 2015
First submitted
9 Nov 2011
Last updated
25 Mar 2015
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Everard ML, Hind D, Ugonna K, Freeman J, Bradburn M, Dixon S, Maguire C, Cantrill H, Alexander J, Lenney W, McNamara P, Elphick H, Chetcuti PA, Moya EF, Powell C, Garside JP, Chadha LK, Kurian M, Lehal RS, MacFarlane PI, Cooper CL, Cross E. Saline in acute bronchiolitis RCT and economic evaluation: hypertonic saline in acute bronchiolitis - randomised controlled trial and systematic review. Health Technol Assess. 2015 Aug;19(66):1-130. doi: 10.3310/hta19660.

    PubMed 26295732
  • Everard ML, Hind D, Ugonna K, Freeman J, Bradburn M, Cooper CL, Cross E, Maguire C, Cantrill H, Alexander J, McNamara PS; SABRE Study Team. SABRE: a multicentre randomised control trial of nebulised hypertonic saline in infants hospitalised with acute bronchiolitis. Thorax. 2014 Dec;69(12):1105-12. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-205953.

    PubMed 25389139

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing 3% hypertonic saline in people with Acute Bronchiolitis, run by Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust at 9 sites in United Kingdom.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Mar 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 9 sites in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Time to 'fit for discharge' (time frame: This was judged to be when the infant was feeding adequately [taking >75% of usual intake] and was in air with a saturation of at least 92% for 6 hours, to reflect clinical practice.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01469845, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Mar 2015.

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