The β-Blocker to Lower Cardiovascular Dialysis Events (BLOCADE) Feasibility Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Am J Kidney Dis. 2016 Jun;67(6):902-11. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.10.029. Epub 2015 Dec 22.

Abstract

Background: β-Blocking agents reduce cardiovascular mortality in patients with heart disease, but their potential benefit in dialysis patients is unclear. We aimed to determine the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Study design: Pilot RCT.

Setting & participants: Patients who received dialysis for 3 or more months and were 50 years or older (or ≥18 years with diabetes or cardiovascular disease) were recruited from 11 sites in Australia and New Zealand. We aimed to recruit 150 participants.

Intervention: After a 6-week run-in with the β-blocker carvedilol, we randomly assigned participants to treatment with carvedilol or placebo for 12 months.

Outcomes & measurements: The prespecified primary outcome was the proportion of participants who tolerated carvedilol, 6.25mg, twice daily during the run-in period. After randomization, we report participant withdrawal and the incidence of intradialytic hypotension (IDH).

Results: Of 1,443 patients screened, 354 were eligible, 91 consented, and 72 entered the run-in stage. 49 of 72 run-in participants (68%; 95% CI, 57%-79%) achieved the primary outcome. 5 of the 23 withdrawals from run-in were attributable to bradycardia or hypotension. After randomization, 10 of 26 allocated to carvedilol and 4 of 23 allocated to placebo withdrew. 4 participants randomly assigned to carvedilol withdrew because of bradycardia or hypotension. Overall, there were 4 IDH events per 100 hemodialysis sessions; in participants allocated to carvedilol versus placebo, respectively, there were 7 versus 2 IDH events per 100 hemodialysis sessions (P=0.1) in the 2 weeks immediately following a dose increase and 4 versus 3 IDH events per 100 hemodialysis sessions after no dose increase (P=0.7).

Limitations: Unable to recruit planned sample size.

Conclusions: Recruiting patients receiving dialysis to an RCT of β-blocker versus placebo will prove challenging. Possible solutions include international collaboration and exploring novel trial designs such as a registry-based RCT.

Keywords: Beta-blocker; Dilatrend; adrenergic receptor blockade; bradycardia; cardiovascular disease (CVD); cardiovascular mortality; carvedilol; dialysis; drug tolerability; end-stage kidney disease (ESKD); feasibility study; hemodialysis; intradialytic hypotension (IDH); randomized controlled trial (RCT); study recruitment.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Aged
  • Carbazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Carvedilol
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Propanolamines / therapeutic use*
  • Renal Dialysis*

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Carbazoles
  • Propanolamines
  • Carvedilol