ANZICS CTG Endorsed Study
TARGET
The augmented versus routine approach to giving energy trial
Study Description
Although the importance of nutrition in critical illness is widely recognized, there remains uncertainty about the optimal target for caloric requirements. We plan to conduct a pivotal, 4000-patient, multicentre, double-blinded, randomised, controlled, parallel-group, phase III clinical trial to determine if the delivery of more calories improves survival following critical illness.
Aim: The primary aim of the study is to determine if augmentation of calorie delivery using energy dense enteral nutrition in mechanically ventilated patients improves 90 day survival when compared to routine care. A secondary aim is to determine if augmentation of calorie delivery using energy dense enteral nutrition in mechanically ventilated patients improves functional outcomes when compared to routine care. Primary Study Hypothesis: We hypothesise that, in mechanically ventilated patients, the enteral delivery of energy dense nutrition improves 90 day survival when compared to standard enteral care (which usually results in under-nutrition). Our secondary hypothesis is that enteral delivery of energy dense nutrition will also improve functional outcomes.
We have developed a simple & inexpensive strategy to deliver more calories safely & effectively via the enteral route. The strategy is to substitute standard formula (1.0 kcal/ml) with energy dense formula (1.5 kcal/ml) & deliver it at the same rate. This is a novel concept. Concentrated feed formulae are used in ICU feeding practice but are usually given at a reduced rate to patients who require fluid restriction. This is the first time that a concentrated formula has intentionally been given at full rate with the aim of increasing calorie delivery in the knowledge that over a 24 hour period the full target volume of feed is rarely given. We confirmed the safety & efficacy of this in a phase II multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial, which has shown promising beneficial results. It is now logical, opportune & important to determine if this strategy can improve clinical outcomes including survival in a pivotal phase III double-blind, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.
The primary endpoint is survival at 90 days.
Secondary endpoints include: Death at ICU discharge, hospital discharge, 28 days, and 180 days; length of stay in ICU and hospital; ventilator free days, dialysis free days and inotrope free days, all to day 28; functional outcomes at, 180 day (EQ-5D-5L; Australian Work Force Survey; or WHODAS2.0 or Adelaide Activities Profile). All data will be analysed using the intention-to-treat principle.
Management Committee
Marianne Chapman (Co-Chair), Sandra Peake (Co-Chair), Rinaldo Bellomo, Andrew Davies, Adam Deane, Suzie Ferrie, Frank van Haren, Michael Horowitz, Sally Hurford (Project Manager), Theodore Iwashyna, Kylie Lange, Lorraine Little (Project Manager), Edward Litton, Diane Mackle (Project Manager), Stephanie O’Connor, Jeffrey Presneill, Emma Ridley, Vanessa Singh, Patricia Williams, and Paul Young.
Administering Institution
ANZIC Research Centre, Monash University
Collaborators
The National Health & Medical Research Council – Centre of Research Excellence for the Translation of Nutritional Science into Good Health (NHMRC CREnutrition).
Sample Size
4000 patients
Funding
NHMRC Project Grant $3,534,236
Health Research Council of New Zealand NZ$1,200,000
Project Status
The project results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (October, 2018).
Publications
TARGET Investigators, for the the ANZICS Clinical Trials Group. Energy-Dense versus Routine Enteral Nutrition in the Critically Ill. N Engl J Med. 2018 Oct 22. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1811687.[Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30346225.
Access the TARGET results paper
TARGET Investigators on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group. Statistical analysis plan for the Augmented versus Routine Approach to Giving Energy Trial (TARGET). Crit Care Resusc. 2018 Mar;20(1):15-21. PubMed PMID: 29458317.
TARGET Investigators on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group. Study protocol for the Augmented versus Routine Approach to Giving Energy Trial (TARGET). Crit Care Resusc. 2018 Mar;20(1):6-14. PubMed PMID: 29458316.
Contact
Marianne Chapman (email)
Reference
CTG1314-08
NCT02306746