Clinical trial NCT05515224: 5-Cog 2.0: A Pragmatic Clinical Trial
Official title: 5-Cog Paradigm to Improve Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Primary Care: Pragmatic Clinical Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Dementia
Cognitive Impairment
Lead sponsor: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Indiana University
name: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
name: Northwestern University
First posted: 2022-08-25
Enrollment: 6600
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 65
Standard ages: OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: Cognitive impairment related to dementia is frequently under-diagnosed in primary care settings. This problem is more prevalent in health disparities populations. The investigators developed the 5-Cog brief cognitive assessment that is simple to use, standardized, takes \<5 minutes, does not require informants, and accounts for major technical, cultural, and logistical barriers of current assessments. The investigators propose a hybrid Type 1 effectiveness-implementation design in real-world settings to adapt and test the effectiveness of the 5-Cog paradigm to increase detection of cognitive impairment care in older adults presenting with cognitive concerns.

The study aim is to evaluate, using a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial design, the effectiveness of the 5-Cog paradigm to increase 'incident cognitive impairment' detection (new MCI and dementia diagnoses) relative to enhanced usual care in 6,600 older patients presenting with cognitive concerns in 22 primary care clinics in Bronx and Indiana. As diagnosis without action will not improve patient care, 'improved dementia care' will be examined as a secondary outcome. Results will also be examined in NIH designated health disparity populations including underserved minority and socio-economically challenged populations.

Detailed description: Cognitive impairment related to dementia is frequently under-diagnosed in primary care settings despite the increasing rates of patient cognitive complaints and the availability of numerous cognitive assessment tools. Missed detection delays treatment of reversible conditions as well as provision of support services and critical planning. This problem is more prevalent among older African-Americans and Hispanics than older whites, and more common in rural than urban populations.

The investigators developed the 5-Cog brief cognitive assessment that is simple to use, standardized, takes \<5 minutes, does not require informants, and accounts for major technical, cultural, and logistical barriers of current assessments. The investigators are conducting a simple randomized clinical trial to examine the clinical efficacy of the 5-Cog paradigm (5-Cog brief cognitive assessment paired with a clinical decision-making tool) to improve dementia care in 1,200 predominantly minority sample of older adults with cognitive concerns presenting to a primary care clinic in the Bronx. Interim analysis revealed that the 5-Cog paradigm resulted in an over 8-fold increase in new cognitive impairment diagnoses and over 3-fold increase in improved dementia care actions by primary care physicians compared to an active control arm. Following up on these very promising results, the investigators propose a hybrid Type 1 effectiveness-implementation design in real-world settings to adapt and test the effectiveness of the 5-Cog paradigm to increase detection of cognitive impairment care in older adults presenting with cognitive concerns.

The aim of the pragmatic cluster-randomized trial is to test the clinical effectiveness of the 5-Cog paradigm in increasing cognitive impairment detection and improving dementia care - ascertained via electronic medical record. Randomization will be at the clinic level, and select 22 primary care practices; 6 in Bronx and 18 in urban and rural Indiana. 300 participants per practice will be enrolled for a total of 6,600 older patients with cognitive concerns. Results will also be examined in NIH designated health disparity populations including underserved minority and socio-economically challenged populations.

Outcomes are new cognitive impairment diagnoses (primary) and improved dementia care (secondary) in the 90-day period following presentation of cognitive concern to the primary care physician.

* New cognitive impairment diagnoses (primary): New diagnosis of dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment by primary care physicians. For patients with a previous diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment in electronic medical record, only a new diagnosis of dementia will be considered as an incident outcome.
* Improved dementia care (secondary): Any of the following: 1. Tests ordered for reversible causes of cognitive impairment as per published guidelines. 2. New cognitive enhancing medication prescriptions or deprescribing anti-cholinergic. 3. Referral for cognitive/dementia evaluation by specialists (Neurology, Geriatrics, Psychiatry). 4. Referral to social worker or community-based organizations.

Implementation issues and cost-effectiveness of the 5-Cog paradigm will also be examined.

This proposed study focuses on scalable approaches to address the unmet need of early detection of incident cognitive impairment, including in populations that experience health disparities.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. 65 years and older
2. Presence of cognitive concerns
3. English or Spanish speaking.
4. Able to see and hear well enough to complete assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior diagnosis of dementia (documented in the electronic medical record or reported by physicians).
2. Permanent nursing facility residents.

Primary outcomes:
measure: New cognitive impairment diagnoses in the 90-day period following presentation of cognitive concern to the primary care physician (PCP).
timeFrame: 90 days
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Improved dementia care in the 90-day period following presentation of cognitive concern to the primary care provider (PCP).
timeFrame: 90 days
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bloomington
country: United States
facility: Indiana University
state: Indiana
city: Bronx
country: United States
facility: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
state: New York
Study officials:
affiliation: Stony Brook University
name: Joe Verghese, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Indiana University
name: Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicie
name: Erica Weiss, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: