There is an urgent public health need to reduce reliance on opioids for effective long-term pain management, particularly in knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This effectiveness trial will compare commonly recommended treatments to reduce pain and functional limitations in KOA.These results will lead to improved patient selection for treatment and inform evidence based guidelines by offering well-tested, effective, non-surgical alternatives.
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the leading causes of chronic pain and disability worldwide, affecting over 30% of older adults. It represents a major global health and economic burden to individuals and society. The rates of KOA have more than doubled in the past 70 years and continue to grow sharply, given increases in life expectancy and population body mass index (BMI). Surgery is often employed to treat KOA, but it is associated with a high rate of persistent pain, and is not a permanent solution. Numerous nonsurgical therapies have been advocated to treat pain in patients with KOA yet are not often used in clinical care. The limited pain relief and functional improvement seen in a subset of knee OA sufferers has led to a high rate of opioid use and disability in this population. The overarching goal of this study is to conduct a sequential parallel group randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of conservative behavioral and non-opioid pharmacological treatments (Phase 1) and, among those that indicate interest in obtaining further treatment and those not eligible for conservative treatment, the benefits of procedural interventions (Phase 2). This study will also evaluate whether clinical and psychosocial phenotypes predict short- and longer-term treatment response. The results of this study will examine the effectiveness of each tested intervention and provide meaningful information regarding effectiveness across key subgroups of participants.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
1,937
Duloxetine is a drug that is used to improve pain and function in people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Duloxetine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression, anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, and joint pain. It will be titrated up from 20 or 30mg according to a schedule provided by a study provider.
Intra-Articular Injection is an injection of 3-6 milliliter (mL) hyaluronic acid (HA) mixed with 1 milliliter (mL) depo methylprednisolone (a steroid) and 2 mL 0.5% bupivacaine (an anesthetic) into the knee.
People assigned to receive this will have 1 milliliter (mL) of a long-acting local anesthetic (a.k.a. liposomal bupivacaine or EXPAREL) and steroid injected into the knee.
University of California Davis
Sacramento, California, United States
Change in Pain Intensity as assessed by the Modified 4-item Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Pain Scale
The Modified 4-item BPI Pain scale consists of 3 items from BPI Pain Intensity and 1 item from BPI Pain Interference. This is a continuous measure that will be calculated as the average of worst, average, current knee pain, and pain upon walking. Change from baseline (BL) will be used in mITT analyses, and change from treatment will be used in per protocol analyses.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 8 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 8 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 1; Change from Baseline to 12 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 12 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 2
Change in Pain Interference as assessed by the BPI
The BPI Pain Interference domain assesses self-reported consequences of pain on relevant aspects of one's life. The BPI measures how much pain has interfered with seven daily activities, including general activity, walking, work, mood, enjoyment of life, relations with others, and sleep. BPI pain interference is typically scored as the mean of the seven interference items. BPI Interference ranges from 0-10 with higher scores reflecting greater pain interference in activities of daily living.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 8 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 8 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 1; Change from Baseline to 12 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 12 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 2
Change in Physical Functioning as assessed by the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
The KOOS evaluates function for participants with osteoarthritis of the knee that is related to injury and degeneration. The KOOS short form includes 12 items and measures pain, functional limitation and quality of life. Physical functioning questions cover everyday activities such as rising from sitting, standing getting in and out of the car and twisting/pivoting on the knee. Scores range from 0-100 with lower scores indicating worse knee symptoms.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 8 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 1; Change from Baseline to 12 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 12 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 2
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People assigned to receive this will have heat applied to destroy the nerve signaling pain in the knee. Steroid will be administered after the procedure to reduce the risk of neuritis.
Participants will be provided with a written manual that includes login information for the pain coping skills training website. The participants will be expected to log into the system weekly, work through the modules, and participate in skills practice. This intervention will be conducted in combination with best practices and duloxetine.
Best Practices can include topical or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen; physical therapy that may include aquatherapy; integrative treatments such as acupuncture, yoga, or a structured exercise program; and other non-invasive treatments.
University of California San Diego
San Diego, California, United States
VA Medical Center San Diego
San Diego, California, United States
University of Colorado
Aurora, Colorado, United States
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Atlanta VA Medical Center
Decatur, Georgia, United States
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Johns Hopkins
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
...and 14 more locations
Patient Global impression of Change (PGIC)
The PGIC scale evaluates all aspects of participants' health and assesses if there has been an improvement or decline in clinical status. It is a 7-item scale that ranges between "a great deal worse" to "a great deal better." Higher scores reflect greater improvement in clinical status.
Time frame: 8 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and 8 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 1; 12 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and 12 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 2
Change in Pain Intensity as assessed by the BPI
The BPI Pain Interference domain assesses self-reported consequences of pain on relevant aspects of one's life. The BPI measures how much pain has interfered with seven daily activities, including general activity, walking, work, mood, enjoyment of life, relations with others, and sleep. BPI pain interference is typically scored as the mean of the seven interference items. BPI Interference ranges from 0-10 with higher scores reflecting greater pain interference in activities of daily living.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 8 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 1; Change from baseline to 12 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 12 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 2
Compare Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME) doses
Participants will be queried regarding their analgesic use over the past week (for all participants including those prescribed an opioid/other analgesic from non-study providers) to determine morphine equivalents. Adherence to prescription medication instructions will be monitored by self-report. This outcome will be applicable to: Phase 1- participants prescribed opioids prior to study initiation; Phase 2- participants prescribed opioids prior to study initiation and those who receive an opioid prescription from a study clinician during the course of the study or longer-term follow-up.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 8 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 1; Change from baseline to 12 weeks post-randomization (mITT) and to 12 weeks post-treatment (per protocol) in Phase 2
Time to receipt of additional treatment for to KOA
Healthcare utilization will be measured as it relates to KOA on an ongoing basis throughout the study
Time frame: Up to 2 years
Treatment response as a binary outcome for Phase 1 and 2 intervention arms using the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT) guidelines
BPI intensity will be measured, per IMMPACT cut off guidelines and will also incorporate changes in opioid dose. A 20% decrease in pain intensity is minimally important, ⩾30% moderately important and ⩾50% substantial. Each of these brackets will be evaluated to determine responders at the pain criteria cut points. Despite meeting guideline criteria, anyone meeting the following will not be considered a treatment responder: 1. Increase in new opioid use of \>15 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) or; 2. Increase of \>100mg Tramadol
Time frame: Opioid use and pain are measured at all follow-up time points and will be used through Phase1: 8 weeks post-rand. and 8 weeks post-treatment; Phase 2: 12 weeks post-rand. and 8 weeks post-treatment
Treatment response as a binary outcome for Phase 1 and 2 intervention arms based on OARSI-OMERACT guidelines, incorporating changes in opioid dose.
BPI intensity, KOOS, PGIC and opioid use will be measured, and define a categorical outcome based on Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) Standing Committee for Clinical Trials Response Criteria Initiative and the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OARSI-OMERACT) guidelines (pain, function measures, and patient assessment), incorporating changes in opioid dose. A treatment responder will be defined as either: High improvement in pain or in function ≥50% and absolute change of \>2 for BPI and ≥20 for KOOS, Or Improvement in at least 2 of the 3 following: * pain ≥20% and absolute change of \>1 * function ≥20% and absolute change ≥10 * patient's global impression of change ≥minimal improvement Despite meeting guideline criteria, anyone meeting the following will not be considered a treatment responder: 1. Increase in new opioid use of \>15 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) or; 2. Increase of \>100mg Tramadol
Time frame: Opioid use and pain assessed up to 2 years. PGIC assessed at main outcome visit (8 and 12 weeks for Phase 1 and Phase 2, respectively). The treatment response categorical outcome will be analyzed separately for mITT and per- protocol analyses.