Rationale: Acute diarrhea (AD) is still a significant morbidity-mortality problem worldwide. Although oral rehydration therapy is the cornerstone, its anti-diarrheal effect is a controversial subject. Since ten years ago, Racecadotrilo´s safety and efficacy had been proved. However, a pharmacoeconomics analysis on this therapeutics has not been published yet. Objective: Evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability and costs associated with Racecadotril administration in comparison to a placebo in infants up to 24 months of age with AD in a hospital (mildly or moderately dehydrated) and ambulatory (no dehydrated) settings at the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico. Material and Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial (RDBCCT) with pharmacoeconomics analysis (cost minimization) to realize in 454 infants with AD (270 hospitalized and 184 outpatients), 1 to 24 months of age who concomitantly will receive ORT and Racecadotril (1.5mg./Kg./t.i.d. doe 5 days) (ORT-Rac Group) or placebo (ORT-Placebo Group). The clinical outcomes in the hospitalized infants to measure will be a) Stool output rate at 48hs. and at the end of the study; b) duration of diarrhea; c) percentage of intravenous (IV) needs and d) percentage of adverse events. The outcome variables in outpatient infants to measure will be a) total liquid and semi-liquid bowel movements during the study; b) duration of diarrhea and c) percentage of adverse events. The pharmacoeconomics analysis will involve a cost minimization analysis (CMA). Results will be analyzed through bi and multivariate analysis using STATA 11.0 for Mac, considering a p value \< 0.05 as significant. The pharmacoeconomics model will made through decisions trees using TreAge Pro Healthcare v 1.2.0, 2009.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
454
oral racecadotril (1.5mg./Kg./t.i.d. doe 5 days) in double blind assigned.
Placebo with feature color, appearance and tase similar to racecadotril t.i.d. for 5 days
National Pediatric Institute
Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico
Stool output rate
During the study, since the inclusion until the end of the diarrheic episode (24hs after passage of liquid or semiliquid stool) we will measure the stool output rate, reporting it at 48h and at seven day.
Time frame: 2007-2009
Duration of diarrhea
In all included patients we will measure the duration of diarrhea, marking as a zero time the moment to sign the informed consent and the end of the diarrheic episod 24hs after the passage of the last liquid or semiliquid stool
Time frame: 2007-2009
Percentage of related adverse events
During the duration of the study and five days after we will measure the presence of related adverse events. Any possible event ocurred after sign of consented inform will record and then classified as related or non related and as severe or notr severe adverse event
Time frame: 2007-2009
The pharmacoeconomics analysis
The pharmacoeconomics model consisted in a theoretical scheme that makes it possible to conduct simulations of health processes associated with medical care, use of medications, expenses for intravenous hydration and re-hospitalizations secondary to dehydration, through estimates obtained from the efficacy data available from our clinical trial as well as the costs and consequences. The model was prepared using the TreeAge Pro Healthcare v 1.2.0, 2009 software tool
Time frame: 2007-2009
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