Assessment of the Health and Lifestyle Tool

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04624321
• Recruitment Status: Recruiting
• First Posted: November 10, 2020
• Last Update Posted: November 10, 2020
• Sponsor: Region Skane
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Region Skane

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The overall aim of the study is to evaluate a digital lifestyle intervention that has been developed in an academic setting at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The tool is based on self-affirmation theory and has large emphasis on self-reflection to enable sustainable lifestyle changes. The effects of the tool on HbA1c, reflecting long-term blood glucose, will be evaluated in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study will contain two phases. The study consists of a three-month period in which participants are randomly assigned to usual care or access to the intervention tool, followed by an open-label three-year observation period during which participants have access to the tool in addition to ordinary healthcare and are compared with matched controls on usual care.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2	Behavioral: Health and lifestyle tool; Other: Usual care	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Considerable evidence suggest that lifestyle interventions can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, and self-care behaviors largely determine HbA1c. Modifiable lifestyle factors have been established as key drivers of disease onset, progression, and prognosis, motivating the use of "lifestyle as medicine". Despite this, a substantial number of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have difficulties attaining adequate glycemic control.

Lifestyle interventions are often complex and difficult to implement on a large scale. Digital health interventions are increasingly incorporated into diabetes care, and have the potential to improve both behavioral and clinical outcomes on a broad basis. However, low levels of uptake, reduced user engagement over time, and low acceptance among patients, raise concerns about their effectiveness. Knowledge on how to design interventions aimed at inducing change by promoting motivation and personal engagement, as well as a better understanding of patient interaction with digital health interventions, could help overcome these challenges and inform the development of a novel and effective health support.

The objective or this study is to evaluate a new web-based tool, developed at the University Gothenburg, Sweden, that aims to support patient autonomy and motivation to make sustainable lifestyle changes.

The investigators will test the hypothesis that users of the tool get improved HbA1c relative to baseline as compared with controls on usual care.

Overall study design The study is an investigator-initiated single-center study conducted at Skåne University Hospital, Sweden, and will follow participants over three years.

Participants with T2D will be recruited by sending letters with study information to patients in the ANDIS (All New Diabetics In Scania) registry in Sweden or by advertisements. If HbA1c is 52 mmol/mol or above participants are included and attend study visits every three months during the first year and every sixth month during the following two years for blood sampling and physical examination.

The study has an initial 3-month randomization period. Thereafter, all participants get access to the tool and used it during an open-label observation period of up to three years.

Study procedures All participants receive an email with a link to their personal account on the tool. This email is sent immediately after the initial visit. Via the link participants set a password, complete an initial questionnaire and are then randomized to immediate access the tool or to be on a three-month wait list (1:1 ratio).

The randomization is performed by a web-based system, using a block size of eight. Randomization is unknown to all participants when completing the initial questionnaire and is also unknown to the study personnel at the initial study visit. Thereafter, randomization is non-blinded, i.e. there is full transparency as to who get access to the tool and not.

Those randomized to the wait list receive usual care, which means that participants are followed by their ordinary healthcare provider. Those participants do not receive any information about the tool or its content during the three-month period. Participants who are randomized to wait receive an invitation to a second study visit after three months. Following the visit, an email is sent with a link to complete the questionnaire after which the tool can be accessed.

Study visits Every physical study visit lasts appr. 20 minutes and includes measurements of length and weight, blood pressure, and estimations of fat and muscle mass by bioimpedance. Fasting blood samples are taken for analysis of HbA1c and other cardiometabolic proteins. Participants will not receive any counselling or lifestyle advice at the study visits. Technical problems are referred to the study coordinator, who may also respond to requests to clarify content in a general manner without providing personal advice. Patients are followed by their ordinary physician throughout the study, i.e. the tool is provided on top of ordinary anti-diabetic treatment and healthcare contacts.

The intervention The tool is web-based and used via a computer or mobile phone. It is used at each individual's preferred pace but participants are recommended to login at least every other week. Every round the participants choose a themes (out of appr. 80 possible covering e.g. food, exercise, stress, self-reflection aspects), which takes appr. 15-30 minutes to complete. Participants then reflect on the content and how it could be implemented in daily life. When returning for next round participants are asked to reflect on any changes done since last time. There is no interaction between individual participants.

Statistics As one primary endpoint an intention-to-treat analysis is used to compare HbA1c between the two randomization groups based on data between first and second visit (DeltaHbA1c). Patients lost to follow-up between first and second visit will not be included in the analysis.

The standard deviation of DeltaHbA1c is 6 mmol/mol over 3 months in ANDIS patients with baseline HbA1c at 52 mmol/mol or above. With 80% power at alpha=0.05, 142 participants are needed to each randomization arm to detect a significant difference between the groups, assuming that the true treatment effect of the intervention is 2 mmol/mol over 3 months.

Enrollment will continue until the required number of participants are reached, accounting for those lost to follow-up during the randomization period.

As another primary endpoint, investigators will during the open-label observation period compare DeltaHbA1c at one year relative to baseline between patients using the tool as recommended and matched controls with usual care(1:2 ratio between exposed and controls).

The standard deviation of DeltaHbA1c is 7 mmol/mol over one year (as observed in patients with baseline HbA1c at 52 mmol/mol or above in the ANDIS cohort). With 80% power at alpha=0.05, 24 participants using the tool as recommended and 48 matched controls are needed to detect a significant difference between the groups, assuming that the true treatment effect of the intervention is 5 mmol/mol.

Subanalysis of MOD patients A data-driven cluster analysis of 9,000 diabetes patients has been performed in the ANDIS registry based on six variables measured at diagnosis: GAD antibodies, age, BMI, HbA1c (reflecting long-term blood glucose), HOMA2-B (reflecting insulin secretion) and HOMA2-IR (reflecting insulin resistance). Four clusters of T2D patients were highlighted, each with different characteristics and risk of complications. One of these cluster, MOD (Mild Obesity-related Diabetes), is characterized by high BMI and insulin resistance but relatively well-preserved insulin secretion. It has been suggested that patients with MOD characteristics would benefit particularly from lifestyle changes. The investigators therefore hypothesize that patients with MOD characteristics would benefit particularly well from the intervention. As a subanalysis the investigators will therefore analyse the interaction between MOD/non-MOD subgroup and exposure to the intervention using a linear model with a term for the cluster variable, a term for the exposure to the intervention and an interaction term.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Estimated Enrollment: 300 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Intervention Model Description: The study has an initial 3-month randomization phase with two parallel arms, one randomized to access the lifestyle tool and one randomized to a wait list on usual care. After that 3-month period, all participants will get access to the tool, independent of previous randomization assignment, and are followed over three years in an open-label observation period where changes to HbA1c and secondary variables are compared against matched controls on usual care.
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Study to Evaluate the Digital Health and Lifestyle Tool Developed at the University of Gothenburg
• Actual Study Start Date: January 1, 2017
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: December 31, 2020
• Estimated Study Completion Date: December 31, 2021

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Access to tool; Access to the digital tool. They use the tool at their own and do the different themes that are available. They are recommended to use it at least every other week.	Behavioral: Health and lifestyle tool; Health and lifestyle tool used online
Placebo Comparator: Usual care; They are followed by their ordinary healthcare provider.	Other: Usual care; Usual care at ordinary healthcare provider

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Change of long-term blood glucose concentration measured as glycated hemoglobin at 3 months [ Time Frame: 3 months ]
   Intraindividual change of long-term blood glucose concentration measured as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at 3 months relative to baseline compared between participants with access to the tool and on usual care.
2. Change of long-term blood glucose concentration measured as glycated hemoglobin at one year [ Time Frame: One year of the open-label observation period ]
   Intraindividual change of long-term blood glucose concentration measured as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at one year relative to baseline between participants who use the tool as recommended and matched controls on usual care

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Change of long-term blood glucose concentration measured as glycated hemoglobin at three years [ Time Frame: Three years of the open-label observation period ]
   Intraindividual change of long-term blood glucose concentration measured as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at three years relative to baseline between participants who use the tool as recommended and matched controls on usual care
2. Body weight [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
   Body weight between groups
3. Fat mass [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
   Fat mass as estimated by bioimpedance
4. Muscle mass [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
   Muscle mass as estimated by bioimpedance
5. Insulin resistance [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
   Insulin resistance measured as HOMA-IR
6. Total Cholesterol concentration in plasma [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
   Total Cholesterol concentration in plasma between groups
7. Low-density lipoprotein Cholesterol concentration in plasma [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
   Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol concentration in plasma between groups
8. High-density lipoprotein Cholesterol concentration in plasma [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
   High-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration in plasma between groups
9. Triglyceride concentration in plasma [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
   Triglyceride concentration in plasma between groups
10. Fasting blood glucose concentration [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
    Fasting blood glucose concentration between groups
11. Systolic blood pressure [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
    Systolic blood pressure between groups
12. Diastolic blood pressure [ Time Frame: 3 months, 1 year and 3 years ]
    Diastolic blood pressure between groups
13. Plasma Cortisol concentration [ Time Frame: 1 year ]
    Plasma Cortisol concentration between groups
14. Quality of life estimated by 5-level EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire score [ Time Frame: 1 year ]
    Quality of life estimated by 5-level EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire score between groups. Score is from 0 to 1 with 1 meaning highest quality of life
15. Physical activity in calories per day [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
    Physical activity in calories per day estimated by International Physical activity questionnaire between users of the tool and controls on usual care. Score measures calorie consumption and ranges from 0 to unlimited
16. Insulin secretion [ Time Frame: 1 year and 3 years ]
    Insulin secretion estimated by HOMA-B

Other Outcome Measures:

1. Change of long-term blood glucose concentration measured as glycated hemoglobin in participants with and without Mild Obesity-related Diabetes, respectively. [ Time Frame: 1 year and 3 years ]
   As a subanalysis we will analyse the effect of the intervention specifically on patients with Mild Obesity-related Diabetes (MOD). This will be analysed by a formal interaction test between MOD and non-MOD participants exposed or not exposed to the intervention by using a linear model with a term for MOD/non-MOD, a term for the exposure/non-exposure to the intervention and an interaction term.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 35 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with type 2 diabetes at or above 35 years of age
• Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was based on prior documentation or treatment with anti-hyperglycemic medication or diagnosed according to the WHO criteria (random plasma glucose >11.1 mmol/L or fasting glucose >7.0 mmol/L or HbA1C ≥6.5%).
• written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• type 1 diabetes, MODY or secondary diabetes
• conditions or treatments that in the judgement of the Investigator could affect the study evaluation
• inability to understand written Swedish
• connection with the study team, funders, authorities, universities or other public or private bodies in such a way that specific interests in the study outcomes could be suspected.

Contacts and Locations

Contacts

Contact: Birgitta Abrahamsson; 0705316704; birgitta.x.abrahamsson@skane.se

Locations

Sweden

Clinical Research Center; Recruiting

Malmö, Skane, Sweden, 20502

Contact: Anders Rosengren, Professor 0705316704 anders.rosengren@med.lu.se

Principal Investigator: Anders Rosengren, MD PhD

Sponsors and Collaborators

Region Skane

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Anders Rosengren; Region Skåne

More Information

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Dwibedi C, Abrahamsson B, Rosengren AH. Effect of Digital Lifestyle Management on Metabolic Control and Quality of Life in Patients with Well-Controlled Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Ther. 2022 Feb 12. doi: 10.1007/s13300-022-01214-2. [Epub ahead of print]

• Responsible Party: Region Skane
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04624321
• Other Study ID Numbers: Health1
• First Posted: November 10, 2020
• Last Update Posted: November 10, 2020
• Last Verified: October 2020

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: Yes
• Plan Description: Individual participant data that underlie the results will be shared after deidentification.
• Time Frame: Data will be available after publication.
• Access Criteria: To researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal in order to achieve the aims of that proposal. Proposals should be directed by email to internetverktyg@gu.se

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetes Mellitus; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases