Trial Outcomes & Findings for Pilot of Zinc Acetate to Improve Chronic Cough (NCT NCT03135522)

NCT ID: NCT03135522

Last Updated: 2021-01-20

Results Overview

Unadjusted comparison of change in CQLQ score between zinc acetate and placebo treatment groups. CQLQ scores range from 28 to 112, with lower scores indicating fewer adverse events. A minimum clinically importance difference of 5 has been proposed for this questionnaire.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2

Target enrollment

34 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline and 6 weeks

Results posted on

2021-01-20

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule
50 mg zinc acetate oral capsules, over-encapsulated, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Zinc Acetate 50 Mg Oral Capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Zinc acetate 50 mg per day (one capsule) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 100 mg per day (two capsules) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 150 mg per day (three capsules)
Placebo Oral Capsule
Placebo matched to zinc acetate 50 mg oral capsule active arm, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Placebo oral capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Placebo (one capsule per day) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: placebo (two capsules per day) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: placebo (three capsules per day)
Overall Study
STARTED
17
17
Overall Study
COMPLETED
16
17
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
1
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule
50 mg zinc acetate oral capsules, over-encapsulated, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Zinc Acetate 50 Mg Oral Capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Zinc acetate 50 mg per day (one capsule) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 100 mg per day (two capsules) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 150 mg per day (three capsules)
Placebo Oral Capsule
Placebo matched to zinc acetate 50 mg oral capsule active arm, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Placebo oral capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Placebo (one capsule per day) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: placebo (two capsules per day) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: placebo (three capsules per day)
Overall Study
Adverse Event
1
0

Baseline Characteristics

Pilot of Zinc Acetate to Improve Chronic Cough

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
50 mg zinc acetate oral capsules, over-encapsulated, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Zinc Acetate 50 Mg Oral Capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Zinc acetate 50 mg per day (one capsule) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 100 mg per day (two capsules) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 150 mg per day (three capsules)
Placebo Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
Placebo matched to zinc acetate 50 mg oral capsule active arm, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Placebo oral capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Placebo (one capsule per day) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: placebo (two capsules per day) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: placebo (three capsules per day)
Total
n=34 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
62 years
n=99 Participants
62 years
n=107 Participants
62 years
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
12 Participants
n=99 Participants
16 Participants
n=107 Participants
28 Participants
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
6 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
4 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
15 Participants
n=99 Participants
15 Participants
n=107 Participants
30 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
4 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
14 Participants
n=99 Participants
14 Participants
n=107 Participants
28 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
17 Participants
n=99 Participants
17 Participants
n=107 Participants
34 Participants
n=206 Participants
Smoking Status
Former
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
3 Participants
n=107 Participants
5 Participants
n=206 Participants
Smoking Status
Never
15 Participants
n=99 Participants
14 Participants
n=107 Participants
29 Participants
n=206 Participants
E-cigarette usage
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Household Income, yearly
Less than $30,000
4 Participants
n=99 Participants
3 Participants
n=107 Participants
7 Participants
n=206 Participants
Household Income, yearly
$30,001 - 50,000
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Household Income, yearly
$50,001 - 75,000
3 Participants
n=99 Participants
2 Participants
n=107 Participants
5 Participants
n=206 Participants
Household Income, yearly
Over $75,000
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
12 Participants
n=107 Participants
18 Participants
n=206 Participants
Household Income, yearly
Declined to answer
4 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
4 Participants
n=206 Participants
Highest level of education completed
More than eighth grade but not high school grad
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Highest level of education completed
High school graduate or equivalent
3 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
4 Participants
n=206 Participants
Highest level of education completed
Some college
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
3 Participants
n=107 Participants
5 Participants
n=206 Participants
Highest level of education completed
Graduate of two year college or technical school
3 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
3 Participants
n=206 Participants
Highest level of education completed
Graduate of four-year college
3 Participants
n=99 Participants
8 Participants
n=107 Participants
11 Participants
n=206 Participants
Highest level of education completed
Post-graduate studies
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
4 Participants
n=107 Participants
10 Participants
n=206 Participants
Health insurance
Private insurance
11 Participants
n=99 Participants
14 Participants
n=107 Participants
25 Participants
n=206 Participants
Health insurance
Public insurance
5 Participants
n=99 Participants
3 Participants
n=107 Participants
8 Participants
n=206 Participants
Health insurance
Don't know
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Cough characteristics
Cough upon awakening
11 Participants
n=99 Participants
12 Participants
n=107 Participants
23 Participants
n=206 Participants
Cough characteristics
Cough during the rest of the day or night
17 Participants
n=99 Participants
16 Participants
n=107 Participants
33 Participants
n=206 Participants
Cough characteristics
Persistent phlegm in chest
7 Participants
n=99 Participants
5 Participants
n=107 Participants
12 Participants
n=206 Participants
Frequency of cough
Almost every day
14 Participants
n=99 Participants
16 Participants
n=107 Participants
30 Participants
n=206 Participants
Frequency of cough
Several days a week
3 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
4 Participants
n=206 Participants
Has asthma based on spirometry or methacholine challenge
8 Participants
n=99 Participants
6 Participants
n=107 Participants
14 Participants
n=206 Participants
Has gastroesophageal reflux disease based on diagnosis or a positive pH probe
10 Participants
n=99 Participants
10 Participants
n=107 Participants
20 Participants
n=206 Participants
Has rhinosinusitis, postnasal drip, and/or upper airway disease
14 Participants
n=99 Participants
6 Participants
n=107 Participants
20 Participants
n=206 Participants
Cough medications
Cough suppressants
4 Participants
n=99 Participants
3 Participants
n=107 Participants
7 Participants
n=206 Participants
Cough medications
Benzonatate
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Cough medications
Other cough medications
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
3 Participants
n=107 Participants
3 Participants
n=206 Participants
Cough medications
None of the above
12 Participants
n=99 Participants
11 Participants
n=107 Participants
23 Participants
n=206 Participants
Breathing medications
Bronchodilators
7 Participants
n=99 Participants
6 Participants
n=107 Participants
13 Participants
n=206 Participants
Breathing medications
Inhaled corticosteroids
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
2 Participants
n=206 Participants
Breathing medications
Other medications for breathing
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Breathing medications
None of the above
8 Participants
n=99 Participants
10 Participants
n=107 Participants
18 Participants
n=206 Participants
Acid reflux medications
Proton pump inhibitors
5 Participants
n=99 Participants
7 Participants
n=107 Participants
12 Participants
n=206 Participants
Acid reflux medications
Histamine 2 receptor blockers
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Acid reflux medications
Other acid reflux medications
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Acid reflux medications
None of the above
11 Participants
n=99 Participants
10 Participants
n=107 Participants
21 Participants
n=206 Participants
Rhinosinusitis medications
Nasal steroids
8 Participants
n=99 Participants
5 Participants
n=107 Participants
13 Participants
n=206 Participants
Rhinosinusitis medications
Oral antihistamines
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
2 Participants
n=206 Participants
Rhinosinusitis medications
Other runny nose or postnasal drip medications
3 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
4 Participants
n=206 Participants
Rhinosinusitis medications
None of the above
4 Participants
n=99 Participants
11 Participants
n=107 Participants
15 Participants
n=206 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 6 weeks

Unadjusted comparison of change in CQLQ score between zinc acetate and placebo treatment groups. CQLQ scores range from 28 to 112, with lower scores indicating fewer adverse events. A minimum clinically importance difference of 5 has been proposed for this questionnaire.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
50 mg zinc acetate oral capsules, over-encapsulated, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Zinc Acetate 50 Mg Oral Capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Zinc acetate 50 mg per day (one capsule) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 100 mg per day (two capsules) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 150 mg per day (three capsules)
Placebo Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
Placebo matched to zinc acetate 50 mg oral capsule active arm, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Placebo oral capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Placebo (one capsule per day) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: placebo (two capsules per day) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: placebo (three capsules per day)
Change in Cough Quality of Life Questionnaire (CQLQ) Score by Treatment Group
-5.00 score on a scale
Interval -14.0 to 0.0
-6.00 score on a scale
Interval -18.0 to 0.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 6 weeks

Unadjusted comparison of change in LCQ scores between zinc acetate and placebo treatment groups. LCQ scores range from 3 to 21, with lower scores indicating a greater impact of cough upon one's life. The minimum clinically importance difference for the LCQ for people with chronic cough is 1.3.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
50 mg zinc acetate oral capsules, over-encapsulated, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Zinc Acetate 50 Mg Oral Capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Zinc acetate 50 mg per day (one capsule) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 100 mg per day (two capsules) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 150 mg per day (three capsules)
Placebo Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
Placebo matched to zinc acetate 50 mg oral capsule active arm, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Placebo oral capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Placebo (one capsule per day) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: placebo (two capsules per day) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: placebo (three capsules per day)
Change in Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) Score by Treatment Group
2.55 score on a scale
Interval 1.16 to 4.13
2.59 score on a scale
Interval 0.52 to 5.04

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 6 weeks

Unadjusted comparison of change in overall severity of cough as measured by C-VAS between zinc acetate and placebo treatment groups. C-VAS scores cover four domains - severity of cough in daytime, nighttime, and overall, and severity of urge to cough. Scores range from 0 to 100 for each domain with overall scores ranging from 0 to 400. Lower scores indicate less severity. Overall severity of cough is the only domain reported here.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
50 mg zinc acetate oral capsules, over-encapsulated, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Zinc Acetate 50 Mg Oral Capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Zinc acetate 50 mg per day (one capsule) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 100 mg per day (two capsules) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 150 mg per day (three capsules)
Placebo Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
Placebo matched to zinc acetate 50 mg oral capsule active arm, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Placebo oral capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Placebo (one capsule per day) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: placebo (two capsules per day) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: placebo (three capsules per day)
Change in Cough Visual Assessment Scale (C-VAS) Scores by Treatment Group
-15.24 score on a scale
Interval -32.0 to -0.99
-17.82 score on a scale
Interval -29.52 to -7.62

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 6 weeks

Unadjusted comparison of change in GACC scores between zinc acetate and placebo treatment groups. GACC scores measure change in quality of life related to cough in four domains - activity limitation, symptoms, emotions, and overall quality of life. GACC scores range from -3 (very much worse) to 3 (very much better).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
50 mg zinc acetate oral capsules, over-encapsulated, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Zinc Acetate 50 Mg Oral Capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Zinc acetate 50 mg per day (one capsule) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 100 mg per day (two capsules) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 150 mg per day (three capsules)
Placebo Oral Capsule
n=17 Participants
Placebo matched to zinc acetate 50 mg oral capsule active arm, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Placebo oral capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Placebo (one capsule per day) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: placebo (two capsules per day) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: placebo (three capsules per day)
Change in Global Assessment of Change in Cough (GACC) Score by Treatment Group
0.50 score on a scale
Interval 0.0 to 1.25
0.25 score on a scale
Interval 0.0 to 0.75

Adverse Events

Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule

Serious events: 2 serious events
Other events: 1 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo Oral Capsule

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 3 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule
n=17 participants at risk
50 mg zinc acetate oral capsules, over-encapsulated, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Zinc Acetate 50 Mg Oral Capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Zinc acetate 50 mg per day (one capsule) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 100 mg per day (two capsules) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 150 mg per day (three capsules)
Placebo Oral Capsule
n=17 participants at risk
Placebo matched to zinc acetate 50 mg oral capsule active arm, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Placebo oral capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Placebo (one capsule per day) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: placebo (two capsules per day) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: placebo (three capsules per day)
Gastrointestinal disorders
Pancreatitis
5.9%
1/17 • Number of events 1 • 10 weeks
0.00%
0/17 • 10 weeks
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Herniated disc
5.9%
1/17 • Number of events 1 • 10 weeks
0.00%
0/17 • 10 weeks
Renal and urinary disorders
Urosepsis
0.00%
0/17 • 10 weeks
5.9%
1/17 • Number of events 1 • 10 weeks

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Zinc Acetate 50 mg Oral Capsule
n=17 participants at risk
50 mg zinc acetate oral capsules, over-encapsulated, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Zinc Acetate 50 Mg Oral Capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Zinc acetate 50 mg per day (one capsule) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 100 mg per day (two capsules) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: Zinc acetate 150 mg per day (three capsules)
Placebo Oral Capsule
n=17 participants at risk
Placebo matched to zinc acetate 50 mg oral capsule active arm, administered starting at 1 capsule/day and escalated to 3 capsules/day by Day 8 post-randomization (if tolerated) Placebo oral capsule: • Day 0 (randomization) to day 3 Placebo (one capsule per day) * Day 4 to day 7 If well tolerated: placebo (two capsules per day) * Day 8 to V5 (6 weeks) If well tolerated: placebo (three capsules per day)
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Skin rash
5.9%
1/17 • Number of events 1 • 10 weeks
0.00%
0/17 • 10 weeks
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Elevated copper level
0.00%
0/17 • 10 weeks
11.8%
2/17 • Number of events 2 • 10 weeks

Additional Information

Dr. Robert A. Wise, M.D.

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Phone: 410-905-5688

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place