Intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Introduction Delirium is one of the most common conditions diagnosed in hospitalised older people and is associated with numerous adverse outcomes, yet there are no proven pharmacological treatments. Recent research has identified cerebral glucose hypometabolism as a pathophysiological mechanism off...

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Main Authors: Meera Agar, Barbara Toson, Jacqueline Close, Andrew Milne, Gideon Caplan, Anita Nitchingham, Bernard Tuch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-10-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e050765.full
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author Meera Agar
Barbara Toson
Jacqueline Close
Andrew Milne
Gideon Caplan
Anita Nitchingham
Bernard Tuch
author_facet Meera Agar
Barbara Toson
Jacqueline Close
Andrew Milne
Gideon Caplan
Anita Nitchingham
Bernard Tuch
author_sort Meera Agar
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Delirium is one of the most common conditions diagnosed in hospitalised older people and is associated with numerous adverse outcomes, yet there are no proven pharmacological treatments. Recent research has identified cerebral glucose hypometabolism as a pathophysiological mechanism offering a therapeutic target in delirium. Insulin, delivered via the intranasal route, acts directly on the central nervous system and has been shown to enhance cerebral metabolism and improve cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. This trial will determine whether intranasal insulin can reduce the duration of delirium in older hospitalised patients.Methods and analysis This is a prospective randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with 6 months follow-up. One hundred patients aged 65 years or older presenting to hospital with delirium admitted under geriatric medicine will be recruited. Participants will be randomised to intranasal insulin detemir or placebo administered twice daily until delirium resolves, defined as Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) negative for 2 days, or discharge from hospital. The primary outcome measure will be duration of delirium using the CAM. Secondary outcome measures will include length of hospital stay, severity of delirium, adherence to treatment, hospital complications, new admission to nursing home, mortality, use of antipsychotic medications during hospital stay and cognitive and physical function at 6 months postdischarge.Ethics and dissemination This trial has been approved by the South Eastern Sydney Human Research and Ethics Committee. Dissemination plans include submission to a peer-reviewed journal for publication and presentation at scientific conferences.Trial registration number ACTRN12618000318280.
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spelling doaj-art-504fd6a1e1d54069918f5e413fa1cf1c2025-08-20T02:18:23ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552021-10-01111010.1136/bmjopen-2021-050765Intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trialMeera Agar0Barbara Toson1Jacqueline Close2Andrew Milne3Gideon Caplan4Anita Nitchingham5Bernard Tuch62Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT) University Technology Sydney, Ultimo, AustraliaFlinders Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaFalls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaRural Clinical School, Coffs Harbour Health Campus, University of New South Wales, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, AustraliaDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaDepartment of Molecular & Translational Science, Hudson Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaIntroduction Delirium is one of the most common conditions diagnosed in hospitalised older people and is associated with numerous adverse outcomes, yet there are no proven pharmacological treatments. Recent research has identified cerebral glucose hypometabolism as a pathophysiological mechanism offering a therapeutic target in delirium. Insulin, delivered via the intranasal route, acts directly on the central nervous system and has been shown to enhance cerebral metabolism and improve cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. This trial will determine whether intranasal insulin can reduce the duration of delirium in older hospitalised patients.Methods and analysis This is a prospective randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with 6 months follow-up. One hundred patients aged 65 years or older presenting to hospital with delirium admitted under geriatric medicine will be recruited. Participants will be randomised to intranasal insulin detemir or placebo administered twice daily until delirium resolves, defined as Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) negative for 2 days, or discharge from hospital. The primary outcome measure will be duration of delirium using the CAM. Secondary outcome measures will include length of hospital stay, severity of delirium, adherence to treatment, hospital complications, new admission to nursing home, mortality, use of antipsychotic medications during hospital stay and cognitive and physical function at 6 months postdischarge.Ethics and dissemination This trial has been approved by the South Eastern Sydney Human Research and Ethics Committee. Dissemination plans include submission to a peer-reviewed journal for publication and presentation at scientific conferences.Trial registration number ACTRN12618000318280.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e050765.full
spellingShingle Meera Agar
Barbara Toson
Jacqueline Close
Andrew Milne
Gideon Caplan
Anita Nitchingham
Bernard Tuch
Intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
BMJ Open
title Intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_full Intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_fullStr Intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_short Intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_sort intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e050765.full
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