Heart FailurePhase 3HALF-PINTNCT01565941
Heart And Lung Failure - Pediatric INsulin Titration Trial
A Phase 3 study testing Insulin in people with Heart Failure and Respiratory Failure, run by Boston Children's Hospital at 35 sites in 3 countries.
Trial summary
Stress hyperglycemia, a state of abnormal metabolism with supra-normal blood glucose levels, is often seen in critically ill patients. Tight glycemic control (TGC) was originally shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in a landmark randomized clinical trial (RCT) of adult critically ill surgical patients but has… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 2 weeks to 17 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Heart Failure, Respiratory Failure
- What is being tested?
- Insulin
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 713 participants
- Where
- 35 sitesin 3 countries
- Study dates
- Apr 2012to Feb 2018
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 2 weeks to 17 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Cardiovascular failure and/or respiratory failure:
- Cardiovascular Failure: Dopamine or dobutamine > 5 mcg/kg/min, or any dose of epinephrine, norepinephrine, phenylephrine, milrinone or vasopressin if used to treat hypotension.
- Respiratory Failure: Acute mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube or tracheostomy.
- Age >= 2 weeks and corrected gestational age >= 42 weeks
- Age < 18 years (has not yet had 18th birthday)
Who cannot join
- No longer has cardiovascular or respiratory failure (as defined in inclusion criterion 1), or is expected to be extubated in the next 24 hours
- Expected to remain in ICU < 24 hours
- Previously randomized in HALF-PINT
- Enrolled in a competing clinical trial
- Family/team decision to limit/redirect from aggressive ICU technological support
- Chronic ventilator dependence prior to ICU admission (non-invasive ventilation and ventilation via tracheostomy overnight or during sleep are acceptable)
Show all 14Show fewer
- Type 1 or 2 diabetes
- Cardiac surgery within prior 2 months or during/planned for this hospitalization (extra-corporeal life support or non-cardiac surgery is acceptable)
- Diffuse skin disease that does not allow securement of a subcutaneous sensor
- Therapeutic plan to remain intubated for >28 days
- Receiving therapeutic cooling with targeted body temperatures <34 degrees Celsius
- Current or planned ketogenic diet
- Ward of the state
- Pregnancy
Trial locations and contacts
35 sites in 3 countries.
35 sites in 3 countries
United States33 sites
C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322
Children's Hospital Colorado
Aurora, Colorado, 80045
University of Maryland Medical Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115
Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York, 14222
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital pf Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, 60611
University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital
Chicago, Illinois, 60637
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229
Medical City Children's Dallas
Dallas, Texas, 75230
Children's Medical Center Dallas
Dallas, Texas, 75235
Duke Children's Hospital and Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, 27705
Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03755
Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach
Long Beach, California, 90806
Children's Hospital of Los Angelos
Los Angeles, California, 90027
Mattel Children's Hospital
Los Angeles, California, 90095
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky, 40202
Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital
New Haven, Connecticut, 06520
North Shore LIJ Cohen Children's Medical Center
New Hyde Park, New York, 11040
Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York
New York, New York, 10032
Children's Hospital & Research Center of Oakland
Oakland, California, 94609
The Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104
Children's Hospital of Orange County
Orange, California, 92868
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Primary Children's Hospital
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84113
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital
San Francisco, California, 94143
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, Washington, 98105
St. Louis Children's Hospital
St Louis, Missouri, 63110
The Children's Hospital at Montefiore
The Bronx, New York, 10467
Westchester Medical Center
Valhalla, New York, 10595
Nemours/A.I DuPont Hospital for Children
Wilmington, Delaware, 19803
About this study
Official title: Heart And Lung Failure - Pediatric INsulin Titration Trial (HALF-PINT)
Stress hyperglycemia, a state of abnormal metabolism with supra-normal blood glucose levels, is often seen in critically ill patients. Tight glycemic control (TGC) was originally shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in a landmark randomized clinical trial (RCT) of adult critically ill surgical patients but has since come under intense scrutiny due to conflicting results in recent adult trials. One pediatric RCT has been published to date that demonstrated survival benefit but was complicated by an unacceptably high rate of severe hypoglycemia. The Heart And Lung Failure - Pediatric INsulin Titration (HALF-PINT) trial is a multi-center, randomized clinical treatment trial comparing two ranges of glucose control in hyperglycemic critically ill children with heart and/or lung failure. Both target ranges of glucose control fall within the range of "usual care" for critically ill children managed in pediatric intensive care units.
The purpose of the study is to determine the comparative effectiveness of tight glycemic control to a target range of 80-110 mg/dL (TGC-1, 4.4-6.1 mmol/L) vs. a target range of 150-180 mg/dL (TGC-2, 8.3-10.0 mmol/L) on hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) in hyperglycemic critically ill children with cardiovascular and/or respiratory failure. This will be accomplished using an explicit insulin titration algorithm and continuous glucose monitoring to safely achieve these glucose targets. Both groups will receive identical standardized intravenous glucose at an age-appropriate rate in order to provide basal calories and mitigate hypoglycemia. Insulin infusions will be titrated with an explicit algorithm combined with continuous glucose monitoring using a protocol that has been safely implemented in 490 critically ill infants and children.
- Conditions
- Heart Failure, Respiratory Failure
- Being tested
- Insulin
- Keywords
- Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Failure, Heart, Lung, Continuous glucose monitoring, Tight glycemic control, Subcutaneous, Insulin, Algorithm
- Medical subject headings
- Heart Failure, Respiratory Insufficiency, Insulin Resistance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
InsulinDrug
IV insulin titration to target a blood glucose of 80-110 mg/dL
InsulinDrug
IV insulin titration to target a blood glucose of 150-180 mg/dL
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Tight Glycemic Control 1 (TGC-1) | Active comparator | Approximately half of the subjects randomized into HALF-PINT will be randomized into TGC-1 which will seek to maintain the subject's blood sugar between 80-110 mg/dL. Intravenous insulin may be administered per insulin algorithm. Receives: Drug: Insulin |
| Tight Glycemic Control 2 (TGC-2) | Active comparator | Approximately half of the subjects randomized into HALF-PINT will be randomized into TGC-2 which will seek to maintain the subject's blood sugar between 150-180 mg/dL. Intravenous insulin may be administered per insulin algorithm. Receives: Drug: Insulin |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
ICU-Free Days
28-day hospital mortality-adjusted ICU length of stay.
Measured: Study day 28
Secondary outcomes (20)
90-day Hospital Mortality
In order to enable direct comparisons between data gathered in HALF-PINT and the prior adult NICE-SUGAR trial, we will collect data on 90-day hospital mortality.
Measured: 90 days after randomization
28-day Hospital Mortality
We will collect data on 28-day hospital mortality.
Measured: 28 days after randomization
Accumulation of Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS)
Accumulation of MODS during the 28 days following randomization will be measured. MODS is defined as the concurrent dysfunction of two or more organ systems (e.g., acute lung injury and renal failure). The clinical relevance of MODS as a surrogate outcome measure is well recognized in the intensive care community, and there is a clear relationship between the number of dysfunctional organ systems and the risk of death in critically ill children.
Measured: 28 days after randomization
Ventilator-Free Days
Ventilator-free days during the 28 days following randomization encompasses both reduction in the duration of ventilation and improvement in mortality. The end of the subject's duration of ventilation is defined as the date/time of extubation for subjects who are intubated, or the date/time of the discontinuation of mechanical ventilation for subjects with tracheostomy.
Measured: 28 days following randomization
Developmental Neurobehavioral Outcomes: VABS-II Composite
Reliable, reproducible measures of adaptive functioning, behavior and quality of life will be used to determine outcomes at baseline (CBCL, PedsQL) and at one year after ICU discharge (Vineland-II, CBCL, PedsQL). The goal of baseline data collection is to assess pre-ICU health and quality of life. The results of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition (VABS-II) are reported. Scores range from 20-160, with higher scores being better.
Measured: One year after ICU course
Participants With Device-Related or Non-Device Related Nosocomial Infection
We will use Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) most recently published definitions for the following nosocomial infections attributable to the ICU stay: total bloodstream infections including Central Venous Line (CVL)-associated bloodstream infections (BSI), respiratory tract infections including ventilator-associated pneumonias, urinary tract infections, and wound infections that occur in the ICU or within 48 hours of discharge to the non-ICU inpatient unit.
Measured: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Incidence of Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infection
We will use Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) most recently published definition for the following nosocomial infection attributable to the ICU stay: Central Venous Line (CVL)-associated bloodstream infections (BSI) that occur in the ICU or within 48 hours of discharge to the non-ICU inpatient unit. This device-related infection will be counted per 1,000 device days.
Measured: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Incidence of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection
We will use Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) most recently published definition for the following nosocomial infection attributable to the ICU stay: urinary tract infections that occur in the ICU or within 48 hours of discharge to the non-ICU inpatient unit. This device-related infection will be counted per 1,000 device days.
Measured: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
We will use Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) most recently published definition for the following nosocomial infection attributable to the ICU stay: respiratory tract infections including ventilator-associated pneumonias that occur in the ICU or within 48 hours of discharge to the non-ICU inpatient unit. This device-related infection will be counted per 1,000 device days.
Measured: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Incidence of Wound Infection Incidence of Wound Infection
We will use Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) most recently published definition for the following nosocomial infection attributable to the ICU stay: wound infections that occur in the ICU or within 48 hours of discharge to the non-ICU inpatient unit. This non-device-related infection will be counted per 1,000 ICU days.
Measured: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Participants With Severe Hypoglycemia (<40 mg/dL), Unrelated to Insulin Infusion (Insulin Algorithm Safety)
Hypoglycemia will be tracked and reported according to three ranges: severe (<40 mg/dL), moderate (40-49 mg/dL) and mild (50-59 mg/dL). As insulin infusion can cause slight changes to serum potassium concentration, hypokalemia <2.5 mmol/L will also be tracked.
Measured: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Participants With Severe Hypoglycemia (<40 mg/dL), Related to Insulin Infusion (Insulin Algorithm Safety)
Hypoglycemia will be tracked and reported according to three ranges: severe (<40 mg/dL), moderate (40-49 mg/dL) and mild (50-59 mg/dL). As insulin infusion can cause slight changes to serum potassium concentration, hypokalemia <2.5 mmol/L will also be tracked.
Measured: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Participants With Any Hypoglycemia (<60 mg/dL), Unrelated to Insulin Infusion (Insulin Algorithm Safety)
Hypoglycemia will be tracked and reported according to three ranges: severe (<40 mg/dL), moderate (40-49 mg/dL) and mild (50-59 mg/dL). As insulin infusion can cause slight changes to serum potassium concentration, hypokalemia <2.5 mmol/L will also be tracked.
Measured: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Participants With Any Hypoglycemia (<60 mg/dL), Related to Insulin Infusion (Insulin Algorithm Safety)
Hypoglycemia will be tracked and reported according to three ranges: severe (<40 mg/dL), moderate (40-49 mg/dL) and mild (50-59 mg/dL). As insulin infusion can cause slight changes to serum potassium concentration, hypokalemia <2.5 mmol/L will also be tracked.
Measured: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Participants With Hypokalemia (<2.5 mmol/L)
Hypoglycemia will be tracked and reported according to three ranges: severe (<40 mg/dL), moderate (40-49 mg/dL) and mild (50-59 mg/dL). As insulin infusion can cause slight changes to serum potassium concentration, hypokalemia <2.5 mmol/L will also be tracked.
Measured: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Nursing Workload: SWAT (Subjective Workload Assessment Technique) Instrument
The workload burden placed upon bedside nurses when managing a patient on TGC will be described. Bedside nurses will be randomly selected to complete an anonymous survey describing their perceptions of workload burden associated with managing a patient during one shift.
Using the SWAT (Subjective Workload Assessment Technique) instrument, perceived workload of Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses caring for HALF-PINT patients in TGC group 1 and TGC group 2 were assessed. The SWAT has been used to study the effect of workload in the fields of nursing, pharmacy and medicine. It measures the following burdens: cognitive (mental effort or concentration required for complexity of task), time (amount of spare time, interruptions, overlapping tasks) and psychological stress associated with work that impacts performance. The SWAT uses a ranking system to weight perceived workload which results in an overall score ranging from 0-100, where higher scores indicate higher perceived workload.
Measured: One nursing shift caring for patient on TGC, at anytime during the patient's hospital stay through the tenth nursing shift for the patient. Shift determined randomly by the last digit of the study ID number, 0-9 (0=shift 10, 1=shift 1, 2=shift 2, etc.).
Nursing Workload: NASA-TLX (National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Task Load Index) Instrument
The cognitive burden placed upon bedside nurses when managing a patient on TGC will be described. Bedside nurses will be randomly selected to complete an anonymous survey describing their perceptions of workload burden associated with managing a patient on TGC.
Using the NASA-TLX instrument, perceived workload of Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses caring for HALF-PINT patients in TGC group 1 and TGC group 2 were assessed. The instrument uses a ranking system to weight perceived workload which results in an overall sore ranging from 0-100, where higher scores indicate higher perceived workload. It obtains overall perception of workload related to stressful tasks and includes 6 dimensions (cognitive demand, physical demand, time pressure, performance, effort, and frustration.
Measured: One nursing shift caring for patient on TGC, at anytime during the patient's hospital stay through the tenth nursing shift for the patient. Shift determined randomly by the last digit of the study ID number, 0-9 (0=shift 10, 1=shift 1, 2=shift 2, etc.).
Insulin Algorithm Performance: Time to the Target Range
Performance of the algorithm across diverse ages, weights and disease processes will be critical to measure and compare to other published algorithm performance. Ideally, the algorithm will minimize time to glucose target range. We will track the overall glycemic profile using time-weighted glucose average because it is uniquely unaffected by the increased frequency of BG determinations that occur when glucose is abnormally low or high.
Measured: Until study discharge, up to 28 days following randomization
Insulin Algorithm Performance: Time in the Target Range
Performance of the algorithm across diverse ages, weights and disease processes will be critical to measure and compare to other published algorithm performance. Ideally, the algorithm will maximize time spent in the glucose target range. We will track the overall glycemic profile using time-weighted glucose average because it is uniquely unaffected by the increased frequency of BG determinations that occur when glucose is abnormally low or high.
Measured: Until study discharge, up to 28 days following randomization
Insulin Algorithm Performance: Time-Weighted Glucose Average
Performance of the algorithm across diverse ages, weights and disease processes will be critical to measure and compare to other published algorithm performance. We will track the overall glycemic profile using time-weighted glucose average because it is uniquely unaffected by the increased frequency of BG determinations that occur when glucose is abnormally low or high.
Measured: Until study discharge, up to 28 days following randomization
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Mar 2012 (estimated)
- Study startApr 2012
- Primary completionSep 2016
- Study completionFeb 2018
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (11)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Heart FailureStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Boston Children's HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 713 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Boston Children's Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Michael Agus, Boston Children's Hospital
- Investigators
- Michael SD Agus, MD, Principal investigator, Boston Children's HospitalVinay M Nadkarni, MD, Principal investigator, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01565941
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-P00002310
- Other IDs
- U01HL107681
- Acronym
- HALF-PINT
- Status last verified
- Jul 2022
- First submitted
- 21 Mar 2012
- Last updated
- 25 Jul 2022
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Agus MS, Hirshberg E, Srinivasan V, Faustino EV, Luckett PM, Curley MA, Alexander J, Asaro LA, Coughlin-Wells K, Duva D, French J, Hasbani N, Sisko MT, Soto-Rivera CL, Steil G, Wypij D, Nadkarni VM. Design and rationale of Heart and Lung Failure - Pediatric INsulin Titration Trial (HALF-PINT): A randomized clinical trial of tight glycemic control in hyperglycemic critically ill children. Contemp Clin Trials. 2017 Feb;53:178-187. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2016.12.023. Epub 2016 Dec 30.
PubMed 28042054LaRovere KL, Asaro LA, Coughlin-Wells K, Nadkarni VM, Agus MSD; Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration (HALF-PINT) Study Investigators. Blood Glucose Range for Hyperglycemic PICU Children With Primary Neurologic Diagnoses: Analysis of the Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration (HALF-PINT) Trial. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2025 Apr 1;26(4):e432-e446. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000003689. Epub 2025 Feb 5.
PubMed 39907523Yang JO, Zinter MS, Pellegrini M, Wong MY, Gala K, Markovic D, Nadel B, Peng K, Do N, Mangul S, Nadkarni VM, Karlsberg A, Deshpande D, Butte MJ, Asaro L, Agus M, Sapru A; Study Site Investigators for CAF-PINT. Whole blood transcriptomics identifies subclasses of pediatric septic shock. Crit Care. 2023 Dec 8;27(1):486. doi: 10.1186/s13054-023-04689-y.
PubMed 38066613Yang JO, Zinter MS, Pellegrini M, Wong MY, Gala K, Markovic D, Nadel B, Peng K, Do N, Mangul S, Nadkarni VM, Karlsberg A, Deshpande D, Butte MJ, Asaro L, Agus M, Sapru A. Whole Blood Transcriptomics Identifies Subclasses of Pediatric Septic Shock. Res Sq [Preprint]. 2023 Aug 28:rs.3.rs-3267057. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3267057/v1.
PubMed 37693502Bellon F, Sola I, Gimenez-Perez G, Hernandez M, Metzendorf MI, Rubinat E, Mauricio D. Perioperative glycaemic control for people with diabetes undergoing surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Aug 1;8(8):CD007315. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007315.pub3.
PubMed 37526194Zinter MS, Markovic D, Asaro LA, Nadkarni VM, McQuillen PS, Sinha P, Matthay MA, Jeschke MG, Agus MSD, Sapru A; CAF-PINT Investigators of the PALISI Network. Tight Glycemic Control, Inflammation, and the ICU: Evidence for Heterogeneous Treatment Effects in Two Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023 Apr 1;207(7):945-949. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202210-1988LE. No abstract available.
PubMed 36656551Hirshberg EL, Alexander JL, Asaro LA, Coughlin-Wells K, Steil GM, Spear D, Stone C, Nadkarni VM, Agus MSD; HALF-PINT Study Investigators. Performance of an Electronic Decision Support System as a Therapeutic Intervention During a Multicenter PICU Clinical Trial: Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration Trial (HALF-PINT). Chest. 2021 Sep;160(3):919-928. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.049. Epub 2021 Apr 29.
PubMed 33932465LaMarra D, French J, Bailey C, Sisko MT, Coughlin-Wells K, Agus MSD, Srinivasan V, Nadkarni VM; Heart And Lung Failure-Pediatric INsulin Titration (HALF-PINT) Study Investigators. A Novel Framework Using Remote Telesimulation With Standardized Parents to Improve Research Staff Preparedness for Informed Consent in Pediatric Critical Care Research. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Dec;21(12):e1042-e1051. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000002484.
PubMed 32740181Biagas KV, Hinton VJ, Hasbani NR, Luckett PM, Wypij D, Nadkarni VM, Agus MSD; HALF-PINT trial study investigators; PALISI Network. Long-Term Neurobehavioral and Quality of Life Outcomes of Critically Ill Children after Glycemic Control. J Pediatr. 2020 Mar;218:57-63.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.10.055. Epub 2020 Jan 3.
PubMed 31910992Srinivasan V, Hasbani NR, Mehta NM, Irving SY, Kandil SB, Allen HC, Typpo KV, Cvijanovich NZ, Faustino EVS, Wypij D, Agus MSD, Nadkarni VM; Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration (HALF-PINT) Study Investigators. Early Enteral Nutrition Is Associated With Improved Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Children: A Secondary Analysis of Nutrition Support in the Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration Trial. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Mar;21(3):213-221. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000002135.
PubMed 31577692Agus MS, Wypij D, Hirshberg EL, Srinivasan V, Faustino EV, Luckett PM, Alexander JL, Asaro LA, Curley MA, Steil GM, Nadkarni VM; HALF-PINT Study Investigators and the PALISI Network. Tight Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Children. N Engl J Med. 2017 Feb 23;376(8):729-741. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1612348. Epub 2017 Jan 24.
PubMed 28118549
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Jul 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Heart And Lung Failure - Pediatric INsulin Titration Trial (HALF-PINT)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01565941
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HALF-PINT / IRB-P00002310
- Conditions
- Heart Failure, Respiratory Failure
- Keywords
- Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Failure, Heart, Lung, Continuous glucose monitoring, Tight glycemic control, Subcutaneous
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 713 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Boston Children's HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Study start
- Apr 2012 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- Feb 2018 (actual)
- First posted
- 29 Mar 2012 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 11 Dec 2017
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Stress hyperglycemia, a state of abnormal metabolism with supra-normal blood glucose levels, is often seen in critically ill patients. Tight glycemic control (TGC) was originally shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in a landmark randomized clinical trial (RCT) of adult critically ill surgical patients but has since come under intense scrutiny due to conflicting results in recent adult trials. One pediatric RCT has been published to date that demonstrated survival benefit but was complicated by an unacceptably high rate of severe hypoglycemia. The Heart And Lung Failure - Pediatric INsulin Titration (HALF-PINT) trial is a multi-center, randomized clinical treatment trial comparing two ranges of glucose control in hyperglycemic critically ill children with heart and/or lung failure. Both target ranges of glucose control fall within the range of "usual care" for critically ill children managed in pediatric intensive care units.
The purpose of the study is to determine the comparative effectiveness of tight glycemic control to a target range of 80-110 mg/dL (TGC-1, 4.4-6.1 mmol/L) vs. a target range of 150-180 mg/dL (TGC-2, 8.3-10.0 mmol/L) on hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) in hyperglycemic critically ill children with cardiovascular and/or respiratory failure. This will be accomplished using an explicit insulin titration algorithm and continuous glucose monitoring to safely achieve these glucose targets. Both groups will receive identical standardized intravenous glucose at an age-appropriate rate in order to provide basal calories and mitigate hypoglycemia. Insulin infusions will be titrated with an explicit algorithm combined with continuous glucose monitoring using a protocol that has been safely implemented in 490 critically ill infants and children.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Tight Glycemic Control 1 (TGC-1) | Active comparator | Drug: InsulinApproximately half of the subjects randomized into HALF-PINT will be randomized into TGC-1 which will seek to maintain the subject's blood sugar between 80-110 mg/dL. Intravenous insulin may be administered per insulin algorithm. |
| Tight Glycemic Control 2 (TGC-2) | Active comparator | Drug: InsulinApproximately half of the subjects randomized into HALF-PINT will be randomized into TGC-2 which will seek to maintain the subject's blood sugar between 150-180 mg/dL. Intravenous insulin may be administered per insulin algorithm. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 2 weeks to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Cardiovascular failure and/or respiratory failure:
- Age >= 2 weeks and corrected gestational age >= 42 weeks
- Age < 18 years (has not yet had 18th birthday)
Key exclusion criteria (14 listed)
- No longer has cardiovascular or respiratory failure (as defined in inclusion criterion 1), or is expected to be extubated in the next 24 hours
- Expected to remain in ICU < 24 hours
- Previously randomized in HALF-PINT
- Enrolled in a competing clinical trial
- Family/team decision to limit/redirect from aggressive ICU technological support
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| InsulinIV insulin titration to target a blood glucose of 80-110 mg/dL | Drug | Tight Glycemic Control 1 (TGC-1) |
| InsulinIV insulin titration to target a blood glucose of 150-180 mg/dL | Drug | Tight Glycemic Control 2 (TGC-2) |
Primary outcome
ICU-Free Days
Time frame: Study day 28
28-day hospital mortality-adjusted ICU length of stay.
20 secondary outcomes
90-day Hospital Mortality
Time frame: 90 days after randomization
28-day Hospital Mortality
Time frame: 28 days after randomization
Accumulation of Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS)
Time frame: 28 days after randomization
Ventilator-Free Days
Time frame: 28 days following randomization
Developmental Neurobehavioral Outcomes: VABS-II Composite
Time frame: One year after ICU course
Participants With Device-Related or Non-Device Related Nosocomial Infection
Time frame: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Incidence of Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infection
Time frame: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Incidence of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection
Time frame: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Time frame: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Incidence of Wound Infection Incidence of Wound Infection
Time frame: Up to 48 hours after ICU discharge
Participants With Severe Hypoglycemia (<40 mg/dL), Unrelated to Insulin Infusion (Insulin Algorithm Safety)
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Participants With Severe Hypoglycemia (<40 mg/dL), Related to Insulin Infusion (Insulin Algorithm Safety)
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Participants With Any Hypoglycemia (<60 mg/dL), Unrelated to Insulin Infusion (Insulin Algorithm Safety)
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Participants With Any Hypoglycemia (<60 mg/dL), Related to Insulin Infusion (Insulin Algorithm Safety)
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Participants With Hypokalemia (<2.5 mmol/L)
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of ICU stay, an expected average of 8 days
Nursing Workload: SWAT (Subjective Workload Assessment Technique) Instrument
Time frame: One nursing shift caring for patient on TGC, at anytime during the patient's hospital stay through the tenth nursing shift for the patient. Shift determined randomly by the last digit of the study ID number, 0-9 (0=shift 10, 1=shift 1, 2=shift 2, etc.).
Nursing Workload: NASA-TLX (National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Task Load Index) Instrument
Time frame: One nursing shift caring for patient on TGC, at anytime during the patient's hospital stay through the tenth nursing shift for the patient. Shift determined randomly by the last digit of the study ID number, 0-9 (0=shift 10, 1=shift 1, 2=shift 2, etc.).
Insulin Algorithm Performance: Time to the Target Range
Time frame: Until study discharge, up to 28 days following randomization
Insulin Algorithm Performance: Time in the Target Range
Time frame: Until study discharge, up to 28 days following randomization
Insulin Algorithm Performance: Time-Weighted Glucose Average
Time frame: Until study discharge, up to 28 days following randomization
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Jul 2022.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 28042054Agus MS, Hirshberg E, Srinivasan V, Faustino EV, Luckett PM, Curley MA, Alexander J, Asaro LA, Coughlin-Wells K, Duva D, French J, Hasbani N, Sisko MT, Soto-Rivera CL, Steil G, Wypij D, Nadkarni VM. Design and rationale of Heart and Lung Failure - Pediatric INsulin Titration Trial (HALF-PINT): A randomized clinical trial of tight glycemic control in hyperglycemic critically ill children. Contemp Clin Trials. 2017 Feb;53:178-187. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2016.12.023. Epub 2016 Dec 30.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39907523LaRovere KL, Asaro LA, Coughlin-Wells K, Nadkarni VM, Agus MSD; Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration (HALF-PINT) Study Investigators. Blood Glucose Range for Hyperglycemic PICU Children With Primary Neurologic Diagnoses: Analysis of the Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration (HALF-PINT) Trial. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2025 Apr 1;26(4):e432-e446. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000003689. Epub 2025 Feb 5.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38066613Yang JO, Zinter MS, Pellegrini M, Wong MY, Gala K, Markovic D, Nadel B, Peng K, Do N, Mangul S, Nadkarni VM, Karlsberg A, Deshpande D, Butte MJ, Asaro L, Agus M, Sapru A; Study Site Investigators for CAF-PINT. Whole blood transcriptomics identifies subclasses of pediatric septic shock. Crit Care. 2023 Dec 8;27(1):486. doi: 10.1186/s13054-023-04689-y.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 37693502Yang JO, Zinter MS, Pellegrini M, Wong MY, Gala K, Markovic D, Nadel B, Peng K, Do N, Mangul S, Nadkarni VM, Karlsberg A, Deshpande D, Butte MJ, Asaro L, Agus M, Sapru A. Whole Blood Transcriptomics Identifies Subclasses of Pediatric Septic Shock. Res Sq [Preprint]. 2023 Aug 28:rs.3.rs-3267057. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3267057/v1.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 37526194Bellon F, Sola I, Gimenez-Perez G, Hernandez M, Metzendorf MI, Rubinat E, Mauricio D. Perioperative glycaemic control for people with diabetes undergoing surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Aug 1;8(8):CD007315. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007315.pub3.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 36656551Zinter MS, Markovic D, Asaro LA, Nadkarni VM, McQuillen PS, Sinha P, Matthay MA, Jeschke MG, Agus MSD, Sapru A; CAF-PINT Investigators of the PALISI Network. Tight Glycemic Control, Inflammation, and the ICU: Evidence for Heterogeneous Treatment Effects in Two Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023 Apr 1;207(7):945-949. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202210-1988LE. No abstract available.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 33932465Hirshberg EL, Alexander JL, Asaro LA, Coughlin-Wells K, Steil GM, Spear D, Stone C, Nadkarni VM, Agus MSD; HALF-PINT Study Investigators. Performance of an Electronic Decision Support System as a Therapeutic Intervention During a Multicenter PICU Clinical Trial: Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration Trial (HALF-PINT). Chest. 2021 Sep;160(3):919-928. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.049. Epub 2021 Apr 29.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 32740181LaMarra D, French J, Bailey C, Sisko MT, Coughlin-Wells K, Agus MSD, Srinivasan V, Nadkarni VM; Heart And Lung Failure-Pediatric INsulin Titration (HALF-PINT) Study Investigators. A Novel Framework Using Remote Telesimulation With Standardized Parents to Improve Research Staff Preparedness for Informed Consent in Pediatric Critical Care Research. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Dec;21(12):e1042-e1051. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000002484.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 31910992Biagas KV, Hinton VJ, Hasbani NR, Luckett PM, Wypij D, Nadkarni VM, Agus MSD; HALF-PINT trial study investigators; PALISI Network. Long-Term Neurobehavioral and Quality of Life Outcomes of Critically Ill Children after Glycemic Control. J Pediatr. 2020 Mar;218:57-63.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.10.055. Epub 2020 Jan 3.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 31577692Srinivasan V, Hasbani NR, Mehta NM, Irving SY, Kandil SB, Allen HC, Typpo KV, Cvijanovich NZ, Faustino EVS, Wypij D, Agus MSD, Nadkarni VM; Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration (HALF-PINT) Study Investigators. Early Enteral Nutrition Is Associated With Improved Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Children: A Secondary Analysis of Nutrition Support in the Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration Trial. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Mar;21(3):213-221. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000002135.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28118549Agus MS, Wypij D, Hirshberg EL, Srinivasan V, Faustino EV, Luckett PM, Alexander JL, Asaro LA, Curley MA, Steil GM, Nadkarni VM; HALF-PINT Study Investigators and the PALISI Network. Tight Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Children. N Engl J Med. 2017 Feb 23;376(8):729-741. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1612348. Epub 2017 Jan 24.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Michael SD Agus, MD principal investigator
Boston Children's Hospital
Vinay M Nadkarni, MD principal investigator
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
35 sites in 3 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing Insulin in people with Heart Failure and Respiratory Failure, run by Boston Children's Hospital at 35 sites in 3 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 14 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Jul 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 35 sites in United States, Australia, Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 11 Dec 2017). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
ICU-Free Days (time frame: Study day 28). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01565941, which also lists 11 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Jul 2022.