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HypocalcemiaCALCIUMNCT05885256

Clinical Assessment of Low Calcium In traUMa (CALCIUM)

An observational study of Hypocalcemia, run by Brooke Army Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

Major trauma frequently occurs in the deployed, combat setting and is especially applicable in the recent conflicts with explosives dominating the combat wounded. In future near-peer conflicts we will likely face even more profound weapons including mortars and artillery. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Hypocalcemia
What is being tested?
Amending current standard trauma order set
How many people
391 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Sep 2022to 30 Jun 2025
How long will I take part?
1 Month
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Trauma patients that are brought in as a trauma activation will be sought.

Who may be able to join

  • We will include any patient that meets trauma activation criteria for the amendment of our order set.
  • However, for our primary outcome analysis we will use the following inclusion criteria based on the "major trauma" activation criteria at the primary site (BAMC):
  • Penetrating trauma to the head, neck, torso, or extremities (proximal to the elbow/knee)
  • Traumatic arrest or CPR at any time
  • Glasgow Coma Scale of 9 or less or deteriorating from initial arrival
  • Systolic blood pressure <100mmHg
Show all 14Show fewer
  • Respiratory rate <10 or >29
  • Intubated or requiring airway assistance (e.g. bag-valve mask, etc.)
  • Any blood administered prehospital
  • Vasopressors administered
  • Pulseless, degloved, crushed, or mangled extremity proximal to the wrist
  • Evidence of arterial bleeding with or without tourniquet application
  • Amputations proximal to the wrist/ankle
  • Chest needle decompression or chest thoracostomy

Who cannot join

  • We will exclude patients that are known or suspected to be pregnant, less than 18, or prisoner status.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Brooke Army Medical Center

    San Antonio, Texas, 78234

Other trials in United States

About this study

Major trauma frequently occurs in the deployed, combat setting and is especially applicable in the recent conflicts with explosives dominating the combat wounded. In future near-peer conflicts we will likely face even more profound weapons including mortars and artillery. As such, the number of severely wounded will likely increase. Hypocalcemia frequently occurs after blood transfusions secondary to the preservatives in the blood products, however, recent data suggests that major trauma in and of itself is a risk factor for hypocalcemia. Calcium is a major ion involved in heart contractility and thus hypocalcemia can lead to poor contractility. Smaller studies have linked hypocalcemia to worse outcomes, but it remains unclear what causes hypocalcemia and if intervening could potentially save lives. We are seeking to address the following scientific questions, (1) Is hypocalcemia present following traumatic injury prior to transfusion during resuscitation? (2) Does hypocalcemia influence the amount of blood products transfused? (3) To what extent is hypocalcemia further exacerbated by transfusion? (4) What is the relationship between hypocalcemia following traumatic injury and mortality? The investigators will conduct a multicenter, prospective, observational study. The investigators will gather ionized calcium levels at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours as part of scheduled calcium measurements. This will ensure that the investigators have accurate data to assess the early and late effects of hypocalcemia throughout the course of resuscitation and hemorrhage control. These data will be captured by a trained study team personnel at every site. Our findings will inform clinical practice guidelines and optimize the care delivered in the combat and civilian trauma setting.

Read the detailed description

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS/RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The investigators will determine the incidence of hypocalcemia on hospital arrival and the association with survival.

Aim 1: Overall incidence of hypocalcemia on ED arrival in major trauma patients Aim 2: Association of hypocalcemia with severity of hemorrhage Aim 3: Association of hypocalcemia with the number of blood products transfused and supplemental calcium administration Aim 4: The association of hypocalcemia with early and 24-hour mortality.

RESEARCH PLAN

Research Design: The investigators will conduct a prospective, multicenter, observational study.

Subject Population(s)

Trauma patients that are brought in as a trauma activation will be sought. Number of Subjects, Records, and/or Specimens- Approximately 391

Inclusion Criteria The Investigators will include any patient that meets trauma activation criteria for the amendment of our order set.

However, for our primary outcome analysis the investigators will use the following inclusion criteria based on the "major trauma" activation criteria at the primary site (BAMC):

Penetrating trauma to the head, neck, torso, or extremities (proximal to the elbow/knee) Traumatic arrest or CPR at any time Glasgow Coma Scale of 9 or less or deteriorating from initial arrival Systolic blood pressure <100mmHg Respiratory rate <10 or >29 Intubated or requiring airway assistance (e.g. bag-valve mask, etc.) Any blood administered prehospital Vasopressors administered Pulseless, degloved, crushed, or mangled extremity proximal to the wrist Evidence of arterial bleeding with or without tourniquet application Amputations proximal to the wrist/ankle Chest needle decompression or chest thoracostomy Exclusion Criteria: The investigators will exclude patients that are known or suspected to be pregnant, less than , or prisoner status.

Research Procedures

  1. Identification of Trauma Subjects (BAMC)

Trauma patients for enrollment in the study will be identified using our trauma activation protocols in the emergency department. The decision to use trauma team activations will be solely at the discretion of the clinical team. All trauma patients coming in the emergency department that meet criteria for trauma activation will be potential subjects for capture in the study. The investigators will enroll a generally continuous sample by amending our current standard trauma order set which currently requires the following tubes be drawn on every trauma activation upon arrival:

1 green top (ionized calcium source)

lavender top blue tops 1 pink top

1 red top

1 blood gas tube

1 TEG tube

In addition to the order set change, the investigators will promote capture by way of staff education, staff reminders, staff-facing signage, and dissemination via routine department communications.

  1. Obtaining Trauma Subject Blood Samples (BAMC) All patients coming in as part of trauma activations have a standard blood panel order set that is placed as outlined above. Blood draw happens as part of routine clinical care for all trauma activations. As part of the study, the investigators will use existing blood that is drawn as part of routine clinical care, or when necessary, draw additional blood to obtain samples at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours assessing ionized calcium, serum calcium, and magnesium. The investigators will strive to have draws occur within +/- 1 hour of the goal times. However, given that the blood draws will be performed by way of the clinical team and the unpredictable nature of trauma care, missed draws or draws out of the goal time frame will not be considered protocol violations.
  2. Storage of the Blood Samples (BAMC) The tubes of blood will be handled per the current standard operating procedures (SOP). The lab studies will be done based on the institutional equipment requirements and SOPs. No banking or repository of blood samples is planned for this study so all specimen storage and destruction will be based on the laboratory SOPs.
  3. Data Extraction

Data extraction will occur via three methods:

A study team member will perform manual data extraction by way of medical records review, and/or a study team member will submit the patient information along with the approved data extraction variable list to the designed point of contact within the information management division (IMD) for EMR data repository data extraction, and/or a study team member will submit the patient information along with the approved data extraction variable list to the designed point of contact within the local trauma registry team.

  1. Data Aggregation Data will be aggregated by a study team member into a local database. The data will be stored locally along with the master key that links all the data back to the patients in the event additional data is needed or data verification is required. De-identified data will be uploaded to the aggregate data within REDCap which will allow for aggregation among all the sites.

Data Collection

The blood draws will occur via the clinical staff. The current order set has blood draws at a minimum of every 6 hours (0, 6, 12, 18, 24). Additional lab studies are likely to be added based on how critical the patient. The investigators will modify the order set to include blood draws at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24. The investigators will need a green top tube for the ionized calcium which is <5mL per tube and the drawn tube will have multiple uses (e.g. metabolic panels, alcohol levels, etc.). Additional ionized calcium studies may be ordered solely at the discretion of the attending clinician and will be included in the analysis. . With regards to the clinical data, the investigators plan to capture the data after clinical care has occurred and includes the following:

Demographics Injury Severity Scores Timing- date and time of injury, EMS arrival time, air transport arrival time, transferring center arrival time, trauma center arrival time Blood products infusion Laboratory Studies Medications Procedures Vital Signs Prehospital Medications Hospital Medications Imaging Studies Blood products and fluids Outcome data- discharge status, time to death, ventilator days, intensive care unit days, hospital days, discharge location, total blood products and fluids received, cardiac events Data analysis

The investigators will primarily use descriptive and inferential statistics along with regression modeling. Significance for results will be established when p-values are less than 0.05. Categorical Data will be summarized using percentages and Chi-Squared tests or Fisher's exact test where appropriate. Means and standard deviations or medians and interquartile ranges will be used as summary statistics for continuous variables, and they will be analyzed using Student's t-test and ANOVA or Wilcoxon's Test where appropriate. Data may be log-transformed for normalization. The data analyst will use Discrete-Time (eg. Complementary Log-Log) or Cox Proportional Hazards to assess associations between baseline and time-dependent covariates with time-to-hypocalcemia. Treatment variables, such as blood product transfusion, will be measured at time-dependent covariates. Cox Proportional Hazards models will be used to assess associations between baseline covariates, time-dependent covariates (treatments and hypocalcemia), and mortality. The data analyst and investigators will analyze data using relevant statistical software including SAS (v9.4, Cary, North Carolina), JMP Statistical Discovery (v15, Cary, North Carolina), Microsoft Excel (v360, Redmond, Washington).

Conditions
Hypocalcemia
Being tested
Amending current standard trauma order set
Keywords
Hypocalcemia, emergency department, trauma
Medical subject headings
Hypocalcemia, Emergencies, Wounds and Injuries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Amending current standard trauma order setDiagnostic test

    Blood draw happens as part of routine clinical care for all trauma activations. As part of the study, we will use existing blood that is drawn as part of routine clinical care, or when necessary, draw additional blood to obtain samples at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours assessing ionized calcium, serum calcium, and magnesium. We will strive to have draws occur within +/- 1 hour of the goal times. However, given that the blood draws will be performed by way of the clinical team and the unpredictable nature of trauma care, missed draws or draws out of the goal time frame will not be considered protocol violations

Study groups in NCT05885256
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Trauma PatientsSeeking all patients that meets trauma activation criteria for the amendment of our order set. The participants existing blood from the routine clinical care blood draws will be used to obtain samples.
Receives: Diagnostic Test: Amending current standard trauma order set

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Additional Lab blood Draw Sample

    Obtain blood samples at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours

    Measured: 24 hours

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 Jun 2023
  2. Study start1 Sep 2022
  3. Primary completion30 Mar 2024
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
391 participants (actual)
Target duration
1 Month
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05885256
Sponsor's protocol ID
H-21-034
Acronym
CALCIUM
Status last verified
Feb 2025
First submitted
23 May 2023
Last updated
11 Feb 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Kyle T, Greaves I, Beynon A, Whittaker V, Brewer M, Smith J. Ionised calcium levels in major trauma patients who received blood en route to a military medical treatment facility. Emerg Med J. 2018 Mar;35(3):176-179. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2017-206717. Epub 2017 Nov 24.

    PubMed 29175878
  • Wray JP, Bridwell RE, Schauer SG, Shackelford SA, Bebarta VS, Wright FL, Bynum J, Long B. The diamond of death: Hypocalcemia in trauma and resuscitation. Am J Emerg Med. 2021 Mar;41:104-109. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.065. Epub 2020 Dec 28.

    PubMed 33421674
  • Lim F, Chen LL, Borski D. Managing hypocalcemia in massive blood transfusion. Nursing. 2017 May;47(5):26-32. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000515501.72414.e3. No abstract available.

    PubMed 28379906
  • Altunbas H, Balci MK, Yazicioglu G, Semiz E, Ozbilim G, Karayalcin U. Hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy due to untreated hypoparathyroidism. Horm Res. 2003;59(4):201-4. doi: 10.1159/000069324.

    PubMed 12649575
  • Kudoh C, Tanaka S, Marusaki S, Takahashi N, Miyazaki Y, Yoshioka N, Hayashi M, Shimamoto K, Kikuchi K, Iimura O. Hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy in a patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. Intern Med. 1992 Apr;31(4):561-8. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.31.561.

    PubMed 1633370
  • Hensley NB, Koch CG, Pronovost PJ, Mershon BH, Boyd J, Franklin S, Moore D, Sheridan K, Steele A, Stierer TL. Wrong-Patient Blood Transfusion Error: Leveraging Technology to Overcome Human Error in Intraoperative Blood Component Administration. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2019 Mar;45(3):190-198. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2018.08.010. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

    PubMed 30389466
  • Conner JR, Benavides LC, Shackelford SA, Gurney JM, Burke EF, Remley MA, Ditzel RM, Cap AP. Hypocalcemia in Military Casualties From Point of Injury to Surgical Teams in Afghanistan. Mil Med. 2021 Jan 25;186(Suppl 1):300-304. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usaa267.

    PubMed 33499442
  • Giancarelli A, Birrer KL, Alban RF, Hobbs BP, Liu-DeRyke X. Hypocalcemia in trauma patients receiving massive transfusion. J Surg Res. 2016 May 1;202(1):182-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2015.12.036. Epub 2015 Dec 30.

    PubMed 27083965
  • Vivien B, Langeron O, Morell E, Devilliers C, Carli PA, Coriat P, Riou B. Early hypocalcemia in severe trauma. Crit Care Med. 2005 Sep;33(9):1946-52. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000171840.01892.36.

    PubMed 16148464
  • Zivin JR, Gooley T, Zager RA, Ryan MJ. Hypocalcemia: a pervasive metabolic abnormality in the critically ill. Am J Kidney Dis. 2001 Apr;37(4):689-98. doi: 10.1016/s0272-6386(01)80116-5.

    PubMed 11273867
  • Webster S, Todd S, Redhead J, Wright C. Ionised calcium levels in major trauma patients who received blood in the Emergency Department. Emerg Med J. 2016 Aug;33(8):569-72. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2015-205096. Epub 2016 Feb 4.

    PubMed 26848163
  • Ho KM, Leonard AD. Concentration-dependent effect of hypocalcaemia on mortality of patients with critical bleeding requiring massive transfusion: a cohort study. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2011 Jan;39(1):46-54. doi: 10.1177/0310057X1103900107.

    PubMed 21375089
  • Magnotti LJ, Bradburn EH, Webb DL, Berry SD, Fischer PE, Zarzaur BL, Schroeppel TJ, Fabian TC, Croce MA. Admission ionized calcium levels predict the need for multiple transfusions: a prospective study of 591 critically ill trauma patients. J Trauma. 2011 Feb;70(2):391-5; discussion 395-7. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31820b5d98.

    PubMed 21307739
  • MacKay EJ, Stubna MD, Holena DN, Reilly PM, Seamon MJ, Smith BP, Kaplan LJ, Cannon JW. Abnormal Calcium Levels During Trauma Resuscitation Are Associated With Increased Mortality, Increased Blood Product Use, and Greater Hospital Resource Consumption: A Pilot Investigation. Anesth Analg. 2017 Sep;125(3):895-901. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002312.

    PubMed 28704250
  • Cherry RA, Bradburn E, Carney DE, Shaffer ML, Gabbay RA, Cooney RN. Do early ionized calcium levels really matter in trauma patients? J Trauma. 2006 Oct;61(4):774-9. doi: 10.1097/01.ta.0000239516.49799.63.

    PubMed 17033540

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Hypocalcemia, run by Brooke Army Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

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 14 inclusion and 1 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Feb 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. 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.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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?

Additional Lab blood Draw Sample (time frame: 24 hours). 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 NCT05885256, which also lists 26 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 11 Feb 2025.

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