Clinical trials

This study aims to assess whether patients with acute heart failure (HF) can achieve the same level of HF-therapies by digital follow-up at home as compared to hospital visits according to the STRONG-HF strategy. Patients admitted to hospital with acute HF will be enrolled and randomized to either follow-up at the hospital out-patient clinic or digital follow-up at home.

The MIND-APP trial is a 3-arm randomized controlled trial (1:1:1 allocation) conducted fully remotely via a bespoke smartphone research platform. A total of 1000 Norwegian residents aged 16 years or older with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and/or depression will be recruited through national digital outreach. Coprimary outcomes are changes in anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) scores from baseline to postintervention (2-4 weeks). Secondary outcomes include health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), quality-adjusted life years accrued over 6 months, functional impairment (Work and Social Adjustment Scale), health care resource use, and adverse events. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for Tankevirus and Grubl relative to placebo will be estimated from the perspective of public health services.

Persistent fatigue (PF) is a common symptom across countries and cultures, and an important cause of disability and reduced quality of life. Acute infection is a common trigger of PF, as exemplified by the 'Long COVID' phenomenon. Despite substantial burden for the suffering individuals as well as their next-of-kins, the healthcare systems and the economy, PF is an under-researched field, with scarce knowledge of disease mechanisms as well as treatment and preventive measures. Existing knowledge on PF suggests complex interactions between functional brain processes (as opposed to permanent brain damage), aberrations of the immune system (that normally protects against infection) and the autonomic (or non-voluntary) part of the nervous system (that monitors the internal state of the body and adjusts the function of internal organs). Previous findings have been interpreted in light of two alternative models: A body-to-brain mechanism where disturbances of the immune system are thought to impact on brain functions, and a brain-to-body mechanism where functional brain alteration is regarded the central element whereas aberration of the immune system is seen as a consequence (rather than a cause) mediated through altered activity of the autonomic nervous system. The multinational and collaborative Mechanism of Persistent Fatigue (MAP-FAT) project is determined to scrutinize both these potential brain-body interactions in PF. The main objectives are: a) To determine the relationship between PF, activities in certain brain areas, activity in a certain part of the autonomic nervous system (the sympathetic branch), and immunological alterations; b) To determine whether PF is primarily dependent upon the brain's automatic predictions rather than the continuous sensory information mediated to the brain. To achieve these objectives, MAP-FAT will exploit an existing health registry on post-infective fatigue (preparatory part) and conduct a new post-infective cohort study (main part) in which a total of 150 individuals with "kissing disease" and 150 healthy controls are followed for six months. Investigations include: a) Clinical and demographic assessment; b) Questionnaire charting; c) Functional and structural imaging of the brain (multimodal brain MRI); d) Assessment of autonomic nervous system activity; e) Deep immunological profiling; and f) Behavioral experiments. The latter are specifically designed to disentangle the relative contributions of the brain's automatic predictions and sensory input for the experience of PF. In addition, one of the experiments includes concurrent functional brain imaging, autonomic nervous system assessment, and immunological profiling during experimental injections of drugs that impact on autonomic activity; this experiment is key for addressing the causal association between brain functions, autonomic activity and immunological disturbance.

The goal of this study is to learn if the clinical effects of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is better, worse or the same as standard wound care for patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Will there be a difference in the number of major amputations between the groups during the first year? * Will one of the treatments require more surgeries and longer hospital stays? All participants will: * be treated with NPWT or standard wound care for their diabetic foot ulcer after surgery * be followed closely at the out-patient clinic for one year after treatment

This study evaluates whether natriuresis-guided diuretic therapy improves outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) and severe congestion. All patients hospitalized with AHF will be screened using Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) and randomized 1:1 to either natriuresis-guided escalation of loop diuretics or standard care. The primary endpoint, evaluated in patients with VExUS grade 3 (severe congestion), is a hierarchical composite (win ratio) of 90-day mortality, 90-day rehospitalization, and hospital length of stay. Key secondary endpoints (hierarchical) include (1) difference in win ratio between patients with VExUS 3 versus VExUS 0-2 at hospital admission (assessed by interaction testing and statistically tested only if the primary endpoint is significant) and (2) win ratio (primary endpoint) tested among patients with VExUS 0-2 at hospital admission (statistically tested only if the first key seconday endpoint is significant). Exploratory endpoints include in-hospital clinical, hemodynamic, and biochemical outcomes (mortality, eGFR, NT-proBNP, NYHA class, VExUS score, natriuresis/diuresis, and patient-reported dyspnea), associations between congestion markers (VExUS, FibroScan, lung ultrasound, clinical score, and NT-proBNP), as well as quality of life at 90 days, GDMT optimization score at discharge, and long-term time to readmission and mortality assessed through registry linkage.

Norwegian guidelines for empirical antibiotic therapy in suspected community acquired sepsis recommend the combination of narrow spectrum betalactam and aminoglycoside as the first choice, but broad spectrum betalactams are considered equally appropriate, effective, and safe. However, fear of renal complications due to gentamicin and concern for lacking evidence for efficiency commonly leads to the use of broad spectrum betalactam therapy, a larger driver of antibiotic resistance. In patients with suspected community acquired sepsis, the investigators hypothesize that empirical combination therapy with narrow spectrum betalactams and aminoglycosides is safe and non-inferior to empirical therapy with broad spectrum betalactams. More specifically, the investigators hypothesize that the proportion of patients with acute kidney injury or death will be similar between these two treatment groups. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that the aminoglycoside-based regimen has lesser impact on the gut microbiome. Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent health threats of our time, and Norwegian hospitals were required but failed to reduce the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics with 30% by the end of 2020. In this context, novel initiatives aiming at reducing use of antibiotics are direly needed.

Individuals with extensive smoking history have 2- to 3-fold increased risk of dying prematurely compared to age- and gender-matched peers. Historical data indicate that 55% of heavy smokers will die from cardiovascular disease (CVD), while approximately 5% will die from lung cancer. Lung cancer screening programs are currently being implemented worldwide, but efforts to reduce also CVD are not included. The research group behind the ACE 5 Study are affiliated with the study team behind the implementation study of lung cancer screening in Norway ("Tidlig oppdagelse av lungekreft \[TIDL\]"). The TIDL Study have performed non-contrast, non-cardiac chest CT-based screening for lung cancer in 1000 individuals. Prior studies have demonstrated that a visual four-group classification of coronary artery calcification using non-contrast, non-cardiac chest CT images provide an easily available, non-invasive surrogate index for subclinical and established chronic coronary syndrome. Accordingly, the 2024 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for chronic coronary syndrome promotes that opportunistic screening for atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) should be performed when non-contrast, non-cardiac chest CT images are available ("IIa recommendation"). The investigators will now invite TIDL participants for a second study, the Akershus Cardiac Examination (ACE) 5 Study, which will assess whether intervention also against ASCVD ("Lung Cancer Screening Plus Program") will improve cardiovascular risk profile and cardiovascular health in individuals with heavy smoking history. The ACE 5 Study will be a separate study with separate protocol and consent as the ACE 5 Study will focus on the prevention of CVD in individuals with heavy smoking history as add-on to lung cancer screening. The ACE 5 Study will assess the combined effect of (1) non-contrast, non-cardiac chest CT images as basis for ASCVD detection, and (2) the value of a hospital-based, nurse-led follow-up program to improve cardiovascular risk profile and cardiovascular health in individuals with heavy smoking history. Whether a Lung Cancer Screening Plus Program can improve cardiovascular risk profile and indices of improved cardiovascular health compared to the current strategy/standard in individuals with heavy smoking history is currently not known. The primary endpoint relates to status for cardiovascular risk profile after 1-year follow-up, and the study will use pre-defined cutoffs for the different risk factors based on relevant European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines, especially the 2021 ESC guidelines for primary prevention and the 2024 ESC guidelines for chronic coronary syndrome.

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent health threats of our time, and Norwegian hospitals were required to reduce the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics with 30% by the end of 2020. In the current proposal, the investigators aim to assess the efficacy and safety of early discontinuation of antibiotic therapy in adult patients infected with respiratory viruses. A general recommendation to treat all instances of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients with antibiotics leads to significant antibiotic overtreatment. In 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of multiple respiratory virus nucleic acids simultaneously. The wide availability of such nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for rapid viral detection together with chest radiographs has the potential to define patients who can be managed without antibiotics. Akershus University Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in Norway, with a catchment area of more than 550,000 people. In 2012 to 2013, the majority of patients admitted to Akershus University Hospital with suspected CAP and a positive viral NAAT were treated with antibiotics, a prescription pattern representing antibiotic overtreatment. The investigators accordingly hypothesize that discontinuation of antibiotic therapy in patients with moderately severe disease and airway sample positive for respiratory viruses is safe and non-inferior to continuation of antibiotic therapy.

This observational study comprises consecutively patients with cerebrovascular diseases admitted to the Stroke Unit at Akershus University Hospital in Norway. Akershus University Hospital is the largest emergency care hospital in Norway and has a catchment area covering a population of 550.000, which is approximately 10 % of the Norwegian population and reasonably representative according to data from Statistics Norway. The hospital is public and serving both as a primary hospital and a university hospital. Due to the Norwegian, national, all-covering health-insurance, all patients enter the hospital and are considered for further in-patient care on the same conditions. The hospital has a stroke unit classified as a comprehensive stroke center according to European Stroke Organisation standards. Acute stroke management follows national and international guidelines. Overall, the ASIST-1 study will investigate management, outcome and prognosis of stroke and stroke care pathways and later follow up in primary care using several approaches combining existing clinical data from a representative population with different Norwegian health registries. Parts of the study are retrospective with prospective follow-up by health registries and parts of the study are prospective.

The NoCVT study will investigate CVT (2014-2023) in a large Norwegian population (\> 3 millions) using several approaches combining existing health registries, clinical databases and new prospectively collected clinical data to explore epidemiology, risk factors, diagnostics, treatment, and the long-term prognosis of CVT.

The project is a pragmatic registry-based RCT aiming to investigate ACL injury treatment. Study results will help fill knowledge gaps, facilitate shared decision making and strengthen patient treatment. Included patients will be randomized to (1) early ACL surgery followed by rehabilitation or (2) active rehabilitation with optional delayed surgery if indicated. Randomization and data collection is conducted through the Norwegian National Knee Ligament Registry (NNKLR) which is a well established population based ACL registry. Participation is based on informed consent to participate in the NNKLR and the registry-based RCT. The study uses the platform and outcome measures of the NNKLR to collect and measure data. The data will be stored as usual in the NNKLR, but RCT specific data will be exported for analysis and stored inTjenester for sensitive data (TSD). Data collected in NNKLR are: patient data (age, height, weight, activity level, smoking-and snuff habits), knee injury data (injury data, injury mechanism, additional knee injury), treatment (non-operative or ACL reconstruction, reoperation), surgical details (operation date, antibiotics, anti-coagulants, graft type and size, approach for femoral tunnel, additional injury and additional surgical procedure) and patient reported knee function at baseline, 2, 5 and 10 years. Also, x-rays and MRIs will be imported for included patients and stored in TSD.

Urinary incontinence after pregnancy and labor affects 1 in 3 women and has a negative impact on quality of life (QOL), limiting women's physical activity and impairing sexual function. The traditional surgical method treating female urinary incontinence is to implant a sub-urethral synthetic sling, the currently preferred method in Norway. The majority of women treated with synthetic slings obtain great improvement in QOL, but a few experience severe complications including chronic pelvic pain. Several countries, therefore, have reverted to older, less effective surgical methods to avoid synthetic material. Awareness of severe complications has, in some Norwegian hospitals, led to a shift in technique towards shorter slings. With shorter slings, the goal is to achieve the same grade of continence as traditional slings, but with fewer serious complications. The long-term results and complications of these shorter slings are mostly unknown. Akershus University Hospital (AHUS) shifted to shorter slings early, in 2009, using a single incision mini-sling (SIMS) Ajust. Due to costs, AHUS changed to the intermediate sling TVT-O Abbrevo in 2016. Through this study, we hope to establish if shorter slings have the same long-term results as traditional slings, and to investigate if shorter slings are safer than traditional slings, with less long-term complications, such as chronic pelvic pain. We plan to perform a long-term follow-up of women having had surgery with shorter slings at AHUS. All patients operated with either SIMS Ajust or TVT-O Abbrevo at AHUS between 2009 and 2020 will be invited to a long-term follow-up. The study participants will be asked to fill in validated questionnaires regarding symptoms of urine leakage, QOL, any chronic pain related to the surgery, debut of pain, level of pain and any treatments for the pain. All women treated with the current used sling Abbrevo is invited to a physical examination including testing of their voiding function and a gynecologic examination to check for complications. 2D- and 3D ultrasound scans will be done on the TVT-O Abbrevo group to evaluate the position-, attachment- and any misplacement of the sling. Women experiencing insufficient long-term results, such as chronic pain, will be offered a full examination and treatment.

Randomized controlled trial to evaluate effectiveness of behavioral Brief Intervention administered by General practitioners (GPs) versus business as usual on use of Z-hypnotics by elderly patients in primary care.

In this study, the investigators will establish a reliable method and logistic pipeline for personalized drug testing ex vivo using fresh tumor samples from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. With this, the investigators aim to develop a novel predictive biomarker of immunotherapy response, by testing combinations of chemotherapies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Critically, this affects a large subgroup of patients currently not considered to benefit from such treatment. To support the hypothesis, the project will make use of cutting-edge, cell-based functional diagnostics. Individual patients' cancer cells will be screened against a panel of chemotherapies and targeted therapies including CAR T cells, to assess the optimal combination of therapies to induce immunotherapy efficacy in otherwise unresponsive CRC.

Observational study of biochemical volume biomarker levels in response to a standardized intravenous isotonic saline infusion in patients with hyponatremia.

This is a study to improve the collaboration between primary and secondary health care on the treatment of osteoporosis after a hip fracture. In Akershus University Hospital, patients 75 years or older with a hip fracture, are offered treatment with an infusion of zoledronic acid 5mg, combined with vitamin D and calcium supplements, to prevent new fractures. General practitioners (GPs) are requested to take care of the follow-up on this treatment with annual infusions of zoledronic acid for 3 years. In the opinion of the investigators, it is expedient, safe, and sensible for parts of the subsequent treatment to be provided by GPs. If hospitals take responsibility for initiating the treatment, the investigators believe that most of the subsequent monitoring and continuance of treatment can be conducted by the primary healthcare service. Despite this, the investigators suspect that many patients do not get their annual infusions of zoledronic acid after discharge from the hospital. This quality assurance study aims to test a new system where ambulant nurses from the hospital support the GP in treating osteoporosis with the administration of zoledronic acid in the following 3 years after femoral neck fractures. Through the project, the investigators will create procedures for the administration and follow-up of zoledronic acid fitted in the setting of the GP office. The design is a cluster randomized controlled study (RCT) where the regions are prospectively randomized to either intervention or control regions. Patients ≥ 75 years, which suffer a femoral neck fracture, are identified in our Department of Orthopedic Surgery, where they are provided the first infusion of zoledronic acid 5 mg and proposed participation in the study. Patients from the intervention regions will be followed by the protocol of ambulant nurse-assisted administration of zoledronic acid. Patients from the control regions are offered the usual care. Both patients from the control and intervention regions are asked to fill out a questionnaire after 1 year. The questionnaire will ask if the patient has got zoledronic acid as encouraged in the medical journal after discharge from the hospital. The primary study outcome is if the patients are offered treatment at a one-year follow-up or not. Sample size calculation estimates a total sample of 130 patients based on a minimal clinically important difference of 20% follow-up between the groups. Because of high mortality, the investigators estimate the need for 200 patients. The investigators hypothesize that the one-year follow-up is better in the intervention group than in the control group.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Modern breast cancer treatments have led to increased survival, but at the same time, increased risk for cardiotoxicity and development of heart failure. In this study, the investigators want to evaluate whether nicotinamide riboside can prevent cancer-related cardiac dysfunction in metastatic breast cancer patients scheduled for anthracycline therapy. Further, the investigators will evaluate change in signs of skeletal muscle injury and functional capacity.

The proximal humerus fracture (PHFs) is the third most common fracture type in the elderly, and represents 5% of the overall fractures. The incidence is increasing. The purpose of the project is to compare surgical and conservative management of two- part PHFs in light of radiological, economical and clinical outcome. Do the participants between 60 and 85 years of age with displaced two-part PHFs fare better or worse after surgery compared to non-operative treatment?

Prospective cohort study of COVID-19 infection among children in Norway.

This is a randomized clinical trial that randomizes between treatment principles. The study will investigate if precision therapy determined by a tumour board is better than standard treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in elderly. The tumour board will decide the precision therapy based on identified genetic changes that can guide customized therapy. There are currently 40-50 targeted therapies approved for various cancers in Norway. The precision therapy will be given in addition to the standard treatment. The primary study objective will be to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a precision therapy strategy compared with standard treatment. Other objectives will mesaure efficacy and satety of the treatment, and impact on life quality of the patients.