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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05403268

The EARLY DELTA Trial

Rationale: Delirium is a type of acute encephalopathy that is triggered by an underlying somatic disorder. Patients experience disturbances in attention, alertness and other cognitive functions. In patients with delirium, a characteristic electroencephalography (EEG) pattern is seen, known as polymorphic delta activity. The MDR certified medical device "Deltascan" can detect this EEG pattern. Traditional clinical delirium screening instruments are known to have limited sensitivity, in particular for detecting hypoactive delirium. We hypothesize that adding EEG based encephalopathy detection to clinical observation scales increases the sensitivity and results in earlier detection of delirium and subsyndromal delirium, resulting in improved clinical outcomes of critically ill patients, such as delirium duration, ICU length of stay or survival.

Objective: This randomized controlled trial aims to study the effect of implementation of EEG based encephalopathy detection (DeltaScan, Prolira, Utrecht, The Netherlands, hereafter: DeltaScan) on relevant clinical endpoints (ICU length of stay, sedative requirements and delirium related complications, among others) in a mixed medical and surgical intensive care unit population.

Study design: a randomized controlled trial Study population: adult patients (>18 years) admitted to the ICU for unplanned care with a minimal anticipated ICU length of stay of 48h.

Intervention: either usual care, where the patients' medical team obtains regular delirium screening, versus usual care plus twice daily DeltaScan measurements. During the daily medical rounds, the DeltaScan results will be presented to the patients' medical team together with decision support, consisting of DeltaScan trend interpretation and protocol-based suggestions for evaluation of underlying delirium cause.

Main study parameters/endpoints: primary endpoint will be ICU length of stay. Secondary endpoints are encephalopathy/delirium occurrence, ICU encephalopathy/delirium free days, ventilator free days, organ support free days, sedative, opioid and antipsychotic drug requirement, delirium related complication occurrence, frequency and duration of physical restraints application, ICU mortality, ICU readmission, hospital length of stay, hospital mortality and 90-day mortality.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: In this study, it is not expected that randomization to the intervention group adds risk for patients. This is a study of a diagnostic intervention with additional encephalopathy/delirium observations consisting of a short (90 seconds) EEG measurement, which does not harm the patient. Clinicians will receive protocol-based decision support alongside the diagnostic observation. No additional medical treatments will be conducted as part of the study protocol.

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Key information

Conditions

Delirium Acute Encephalopathy Confusion Critical Illness Disease Attributes Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurocognitive Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, Overijssel, Netherlands

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult (18 years or above) admitted to ICU for any indication
  • ICU length of stay anticipated to be 48h or longer from time of screening for inclusion
  • Written informed consent by patient or representative

Exclusion criteria

  • More than 48 hours have elapsed since the patient was first eligible to undergo a DeltaScan measurement after ICU admission. A patient is eligible for DeltaScan measurements if they are a. able to cooperate with simple instructions AND b. are alert or mildly sedated no deeper than a Richmond Agitation and Sedation Score of -2.
  • Admission for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, status epilepticus, hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke, increased intracranial pressure, head trauma
  • Recent intracranial neurosurgery (<30 days prior to inclusion)
  • Known space-occupying lesions in the brain or skull
  • Metal implants in brain or skull
  • Diagnosis of dementia or Parkinson's disease
  • Inpatient from nursing home
  • Lithium use (<30 days prior to inclusion)
  • Imminent death or palliative care phase
  • Patients ánd their legal representatives both do not understand Dutch or English
  • Patients who participated in the EARLY DELTRA trial <90 days ago

Treatment and study plan

DeltaScan

Device

Twice daily DeltaScan observations

Other names: automated 1-channel EEG

Primary outcomes

  1. ICU length of stay

    Time frame: Assessed at the 90 day post discharge follow-up

    Length of stay in the intensive care unit, measured in hours

Secondary outcomes

  1. Encephalopathy/delirium occurrence (DeltaScan)

    Time frame: Assessed daily, until participant is discharged from ICU, or until the maximum observation time (30 days)

    Defined as: any DeltaScan score ≥ 3 OR initiation of antipsychotic treatment

  2. Delirium occurrence (ICDSC)

    Time frame: Assessed daily, until participant is discharged from ICU, or until the maximum observation time (30 days)

    Defined as: any ICDSC score ≥ 4 OR initiation of antipsychotic treatment

  3. ICU encephalopathy/delirium and coma free days (reported as: composite, delirium free days, coma free days)

    Time frame: Assessed at the 14th day after ICU admission. If the patient dies during the first 14 days of the study observation period, this outcome is assessed at the date of death

    Defined as: the number of days in the first 14 days after the patient was randomized during which the patient was alive without delirium or coma. We will calculate this value separately based on DeltaScan alone, DeltaScan+ICDSC and ICDSC alone)

  4. ICU ventilator free days

    Time frame: Assessed at the 14th day after ICU admission. If the patient dies during the first 14 days of the study observation period, this outcome is assessed at the date of death

    Defined as: the number of days in the first 14 days after the patient was randomized during which the patient was alive without mechanical ventilation, regardless of ventilation mode or route. High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) will not be regarded as ventilation. If patients are ventilated with a device provided by another institute (i.e. Centrum voor Thuisbeademing), only days spent on the ICU ventilator will be counted. Any day with <12h of mechanical ventilation will be counted as 0,5 day. More than 12h of mechanical ventilation will be counted as 1 day

  5. ICU organ support free days

    Time frame: Assessed at the 14th day after ICU admission. If the patient dies during the first 14 days of the study observation period, this outcome is assessed at the date of death

    Defined as: the number of days in the first 14 days after the patient was randomized during which the patient was alive without mechanical ventilation (any modality), HFNO, renal replacement therapy (any modality), mechanical circulatory support (ECLS, IABP, Impella), intravenous inotropes (dobutamine, milrinone, enoximone, levosimendan) or vasopressors (noradrenalin > 0.25 mcg/kg/min or any dose of terlipressin / arginine vasopressin)

  6. ICU mortality rate

    Time frame: This is assessed at the date of death. In ICU survivors, it is assessed at the 90 day post-discharge follow-up

    Defined as death occurring before ICU discharge. Outcome reported as proportion of participants who died before ICU discharge.

  7. ICU readmission rate

    Time frame: This outcome is only scored when an unplanned re-admission occurs within the first 90 days after ICU discharge.

    Unplanned re-admission to the ICU before hospital discharge. Outcome reported as proportion of participants who were re-admitted to ICU before hospital discharge.

  8. Hospital length-of-stay

    Time frame: Assessed at the 90 day post-discharge follow-up

    Outcome reported in days

  9. Hospital mortality rate

    Time frame: This is assessed at the date of death. In survivors, it is assessed at the 90 day post-discharge follow-up

    Defined as death occurring before hospital discharge. Outcome reported as proportion of participants who died before hospital discharge.

  10. 90 day mortality rate

    Time frame: Assessed at the 90 day post-discharge follow-up

    Defined as death occurring within 90 days after study enrollment. Outcome reported as proportion of participants who died before 90d follow-up

  11. ICU Sedative Drug requirement

    Time frame: Assessed daily, until participant is discharged from ICU, or until the maximum observation time (30 days)

    The cumulative doses of the following sedative drugs, administered after randomisation: propofol, clonidine, dexmedetomidine, esketamine, zopiclone, benzodiazepines

  12. ICU opioid requirement

    Time frame: Assessed daily, until participant is discharged from ICU, or until the maximum observation time (30 days)

    The cumulative doses of opioids, administered after randomisation

  13. ICU antipsychotic drug requirement

    Time frame: Assessed at ICU Assessed daily, until participant is discharged from ICU, or until the maximum observation time (30 days)

    cumulative dose of the following antipsychotic drugs, administered after randomisation: haloperidol, quetiapine, other antipsychotic drugs

  14. ICU accidental device removal incidence and falls

    Time frame: Assessed daily, until participant is discharged from ICU, or until the maximum observation time (30 days)

    Defined as the number of incidents where a patient accidentally removes an indwelling catheter, tube, infusion line or drain (e.g. intravenous lines, wound drains, airway device, feeding tubes etc) or falls out of bed

  15. ICU incidence and duration of the use of physical restraints

    Time frame: Assessed daily, until participant is discharged from ICU, or until the maximum observation time (30 days)

    Defined as the frequency of application of physical restraints and the cumulative duration of restraint application during ICU admission

  16. Self-assessed quality of life

    Time frame: Assessed one year after ICU discharge

    Self-assessed quality of life measured with the Euroqol Quality of Life questionnaire, version EQ6D

  17. Self assessed cognitive function

    Time frame: Assessed one year after ICU discharge

    Self-assessed cognitive function measured with the cognitive failure questionnaire (CFQ, Merckelbach, Muris & Nijman 1996)

  18. Self assessed mood and depression symptoms

    Time frame: Assessed one year after ICU discharge

    Self assessed mood and depression symptoms measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

  19. Self assessed mobility and physical functioning

    Time frame: Assessed one year after ICU discharge

    Self assessed mobility and physical functioning measured with the Barthel Index

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Thomas Ottens

Other

Collaborators

  • Dutch Society of Intensive Care
  • Prolira

Registry information

Official study title

The Impact of Early Delirium Detection With DeltaScan on Management of Underlying Delirium Causes in Critically Ill Patients. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Acronym: EARLY DELTA

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 3, 2022
Registry last updated
Aug 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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