Background and purpose:
Currently, osteoporosis and fracture risk are indirectly evaluated via the assessment of
risk factors and bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. Although BMD is currently the
most important indicator for osteoporosis-associated bone fractures, most of those
fractures occur in persons who do not show pathologically reduced BMD value. Therefore,
osteoporosis is one of the most frequently underdiagnosed common diseases. Established
guidelines for the diagnosis of osteoporosis recommend the assessment of fracture risk
factors and the T-Score, which is derived from the measurement of areal bone mineral
density (aBMD) by means of DXA at major fracture sites, i.e., spine and proximal femur.
DXA is regarded as the "gold standard" well-established methodology to determine aBMD for
diagnostic purposes. Epidemiological data emphasize the urgency of developing diagnostic
tools that can improve fracture risk prediction so that patients can be treated with the
appropriate anti-osteoporotic therapies. Current guidelines for diagnosis and treatment
lead to treatment gaps. It is estimated that at least 80% of males and 77% of females who
would benefit from osteoporosis treatment are neither diagnosed nor treated in Germany.
Device description:
The POROUS R3C ultrasound device enables a non-invasive, non-ionizing quantitative
detection of microstructural bone changes. As opposed to diagnosis based on a combination
of clinical risk factors and a relative decrease of BMD, the novel device enables
detecting pathological changes of bone microstructure at an earlier timepoint as well as
monitoring such changes in a longitudinal manner. In the course of this clinical
investigation, data will be collected to establish relevant ultrasound-based physical
biomarkers for the prediction of fracture risk.
Study design:
This is a single-cohort, multicenter, prospective, age- and sex-stratified study in
participants > 55 years of age. In this study, Baseline data will be collected to
establish a corrected standardized gradient of fracture risk using the POROUS R3C
ultrasound device and test its performance in predicting fracture risk. Further, the
performance of the POROUS R3C ultrasound device in the analysis of cortical bone
properties and discrimination of prevalent fractures will be assessed. Participants will
be enrolled into different groups based on their age (consisting of five-year bands), sex
(males and females), and risk status for hip and vertebral fractures (i.e., high risk of
≥ 2-fold and low risk of < 2-fold increased risk compared to the general population of
the same age and sex).
Two measurements with each device: investigational device (POROUS R3C ultrasound device
at the midshaft tibia), and comparator (DXA of the lumbar spine and proximal femur), are
scheduled per participant:
Study Part 1:
In Part 1, information on prevalent fractures will be used to establish a corrected
standardized gradient of fracture risk using the POROUS R3C ultrasound device. In other
words, Part 1 aims to establish the discriminative performance and a standardized
gradient of fracture risk based on prevalent fractures. In addition, the discriminative
performance of the POROUS R3C ultrasound device and standard-of-care DXA will be compared
based on prevalent fractures.
Study Part 2:
In Part 2, information on incident fractures will be used to establish a corrected
standardized gradient of fracture risk using the POROUS R3C ultrasound device. It will be
developed to demonstrate the predictive performance of the derived fracture risk. In
other words, Part 2 aims to establish a standardized gradient of fracture risk based on
incident fractures. In addition, the predictive performance of the POROUS R3C ultrasound
device and standard-of-care DXA will be compared based on incident fractures.
The collection of data obtained by DXA and the POROUS R3C device at the EoS visit is used
to monitor changes in the bone state in comparison to the respective data obtained at
Baseline. However, only measurement data obtained by the POROUS R3C device at Baseline is
used to develop the POROUS-Score model and the standardized gradient of fracture risk
(for Part 1 and Part 2).
Primary objectives:
Part 1 -To establish a corrected standardized gradient of fracture risk using the
POROUS R3C ultrasound device based on prevalent fractures.
Part 2 - To establish a corrected standardized gradient of fracture risk using the
POROUS R3C ultrasound device based on incident fractures and to demonstrate the
predictive performance of the derived fracture risk.
Secondary objectives:
Part 1 - To compare the discriminative performance of the POROUS R3C ultrasound
device and standard-of-care DXA based on prevalent fractures.
Part 2 - To assess the safety of the POROUS R3C ultrasound device by monitoring
adverse events affecting participants or the healthcare professionals using the
device.
Part 2 - To compare the predictive performance of the POROUS R3C ultrasound device
and standard-of-care DXA based on incident fractures.
Exploratory objectives:
Part 1 - To assess the association of various ultrasound parameters measured by the
POROUS R3C ultrasound device with specific clinical risk factors/indicators for
vertebral and hip fractures (as outlined by the DVO) and prevalent fractures.
Part 1 - To demonstrate the discriminative performance of the POROUS R3C ultrasound
device based on subgroups of prevalent fractures, e.g., hip, vertebral, and major
osteoporotic fractures.
Part 1 - To establish reference data for developing age-adjusted POROUS Z-scores
using the POROUS R3C ultrasound device based on prevalent fractures.
Part 2 - To assess the association of various ultrasound parameters measured by the
POROUS R3C ultrasound device with specific clinical risk factors/indicators for
vertebral and hip fractures (as outlined by the DVO) and incident fractures.
Part 2 - To demonstrate the predictive performance of the POROUS R3C ultrasound
device based on subgroups of incident fractures, e.g., hip, vertebral, and major
osteoporotic fractures.
Part 2 - To establish reference data for developing age-adjusted POROUS Z-scores
using the POROUS R3C ultrasound device based on incident fractures.
Part 2 - To explore the treatment effect of anti-osteoporotic medication
Part 2 - To explore the treatment effect of drugs known to influence bone
metabolism.
Participants:
A total of 1,600 female and male participants (> 55 years of age) will be included in the
investigation. This population is planned to include 1,120 participants with ≥ 2-fold
increased age- and sex-adjusted risk for hip and vertebral fractures and 480 participants
with a < 2-fold increased age- and sex-adjusted risk for hip and vertebral fractures.
Stratification of participants, fracture risk < 2-fold increased risk:
Age group 56-60, males/females = 40 per group, total = 80.
Age group 61-65, males/females = 40 per group, total = 80.
Age group 66-70, males/females = 40 per group, total = 80.
Age group 71-75, males/females = 40 per group, total = 80.
Age group 76-80, males/females = 40 per group, total = 80.
Age group 81-85, males/females = 40 per group, total = 80.
Stratification of participants, fracture risk ≥ 2-fold increased risk:
Age group 66-70, females = 100 per group.
Age group 71-75, males = 100 per group, females = 160 per group, total = 260.
Age group 76-80, males/females = 180 per group, total = 360.
Age group 81-85, males/females = 200 per group, total = 400.
The expected number of incident fractures* ~140 (at 24 months), ~210 (at 36 months).
*The assumed number of fractures per analysis group (DXA and POROUS R3C) at Month 24 and
Month 36, respectively, is based on age- and sex-matched incidence rates for fractures
(Rupp et al., Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 2021), further updated by data on the
incidence of vertebral fractures (Fink et al., JBMR, 2005).
Risk calculation for hip and vertebral fractures:
At Screening, assessment of clinical risk factors and application of risk calculating
scheme as outlined in the Dachverband Osteologie (DVO, tri-national umbrella association
of German, Austrian, and Swiss medical and scientific professional societies in the field
of bone diseases) osteoporosis guideline will determine whether a participant is at
increased risk (≥ 2-fold compared to the general population of the same age and sex) for
hip and vertebral fractures. Please note that the calculation of the pertinent risk as
performed in this study does not include any DXA-based BMD measurements and T-Scores. No
DXA BMD measurement or DXA-based vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) will be conducted at
Screening. Noteworthy, DXA-based BMD measurement results and T-Scores will be included in
the different analyses of the study endpoints but not for the risk calculation at
Screening as described above. Screened and eligible individuals will be enrolled in the
investigation until the necessary sample size for his/her corresponding group (based on
age, sex, and risk status) has been reached (see Table below). To avoid over-recruiting,
once the necessary sample size for one group has been reached, no further individuals
with matching age band, sex, and risk status will be enrolled in the study.
Duration of the study:
The planned overall clinical investigation is expected to take 48 months, including an
enrolment period of approximately 12 months and a clinical investigation period of 36
months. Per participant, the total time of participation in the investigation will take
36 months. 20 months (+/-1 month) after the first participant has been included in the
investigation, a checkpoint assessment of the number of fracture events so far recorded
is planned. The aim is to assess whether the number of fractures projected to be reached
after each participant will have been followed-up for 24 months would be sufficient for a
test of the primary endpoint with sufficient statistical power. If this is the case, the
clinical investigation period will be shortened to 24 months (correspondingly, the
overall duration will be shortened to 36 months). If, at the checkpoint assessment, the
number of fractures is insufficient, the follow-up period will remain as planned and the
EoS visit will take place at 36 months, amounting to the originally planned overall
duration of 48 months.
Duration of participation:
The total time of participation in the investigation will take 36 months per participant,
with the option to be shortened to an investigational period of 24 months based on the
results of a checkpoint assessment of reported fractures scheduled at Month 20 (+/-1
month).
Fracture risk prediction model:
The diagnostic value of physical biomarkers, which are derived from Baseline measurements
with the POROUS R3C ultrasound device, will be assessed, and selected physical biomarkers
will be integrated into a model, resulting in a composite POROUS-Score, for fracture risk
prediction. In Part 1, the model will be developed using data on prevalent fractures,
while in Part 2, the model will be developed using data on incident fractures. The
resulting POROUS-Scores are, therefore, different in Part 1 and Part 2. In Part 1, it is
termed POROUS-Score(Prev), whereas in Part 2, it is termed POROUS-Score. Additionally,
anthropometric data (age, sex, and BMI) will be evaluated and selected for adding
predictive strength to the prediction model.
Part 1:
Prevalent fractures will be recorded, and all relevant variables, including ultrasound
parameter values and anthropometric information, will be used to perform partial least
squares - discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) followed by subwindow permutation analysis using
a Monte-Carlo approach. Only variables that have statistically significant discriminative
power will be used in the next step, where a new fracture discrimination model will be
created using PLS-DA analysis. Thereafter, the performance of the model will be
investigated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. More precisely,
logistic discriminant analysis will be performed. Area under the curve (AUC) values and
their confidence intervals will be computed from ROC curves for each model. Internal
validation of the model will be performed by using cross-validation followed by bootstrap
analysis. Odds ratios will be determined for both the final composite POROUS-Score(Prev)
(generated from the internally validated model) and DXA T-Score. Standardized odds ratios
(sOR) will be calculated, i.e., the fold-increase of the relative fracture risk per
standard deviation decrease of the respective score. The discriminative ability of the
POROUS model for prevalent fractures is demonstrated if the lower limit of the 90%
confidence interval of the corrected sOR is higher than 1.
Part 2:
Incident fractures will be recorded, and all relevant variables, including ultrasound
parameter values and anthropometric information, will be used to perform PLSDA followed
by sub-window permutation analysis using a Monte-Carlo approach. Only variables that have
statistically significant predictive power will be used in the next step, where a
multivariate Cox-proportional Hazard model will be performed to calculate the hazard
ratio (HR). Then, the model performance will be investigated using ROC analysis. Internal
validation of the model will be done by running cross-validation followed by Bootstrap
analysis. The standardized relative risk (sRR) will be calculated, i.e., the
fold-increase of the relative fracture risk per standard deviation decrease of the
respective score. The sRR will be determined for both the final composite POROUS-Score
(generated from the internally validated model) and DXA T-Score. The predictive ability
of the POROUS model for incident fractures is demonstrated if the lower limit of the 90%
confidence interval of the corrected sRR is higher than 1.
Clinical procedures:
The following clinical procedures are performed during the investigation:
Screening
Informed consent
Inclusion/exclusion criteria
Calculation of individual risk for hip and vertebral fractures as per modified
version of the DVO risk calculation scheme (excluding DXA-based BMD measurement and
T-Score)
Enrolment into corresponding age-sex-risk group.
Baseline (Visit 2, 0-14 days after Screening)
Scanning with the POROUS R3C ultrasound device at the central anteromedial tibia
region
Scanning with DXA (aBMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur).
Fracture anamnesis, including DXA-based VFA. Alternatively, VFA may be replaced by
projectional radiography if VFA is not available.
Assessment of clinical risk indicators (as per DVO guideline)
Assessment of concomitant medication (initiation of anti-osteoporotic medication as
well as oral glucocorticoids, proton pump inhibitors, aromatase inhibitors, hormone
ablation therapy/antiandrogens in males).
Recording of adverse events.
Follow-up period Interim visits (phone survey) - Visits 3-7 at Month 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 ±
14 days
Assessment of incident fractures (to be validated by requesting medical documents -
X-ray images, physician's findings)
Concomitant medication assessment
Recording of adverse events
Early-termination (ET) visit/phone survey Participants who withdraw early (i.e., before
undergoing the EoS visit) will be offered an ET clinical visit, including
VFA (or projectional radiography of the spine, respectively, if VFA is not
available)
Anamnesis of incident fractures since the last visit/phone survey
Concomitant medication assessment (see above)
Recording of adverse events. (Alternatively, the visit can be conducted as a phone
survey if the time gap since the last DXA/VFA is < 6 months or the participant is
not available for a clinical visit).
EoS visit - Visit 8 at Month 36 ± 14 days
Scanning with the POROUS R3C ultrasound device at the central anteromedial tibia
region
Scanning with DXA (aBMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur).
Assessment of incident fractures including VFA (or projectional radiography of the
spine)
Re-assessment of fracture risk factors/indicators as per DVO guideline and
recalculation of risk for hip and vertebral fractures
Concomitant medication assessment
Recording of adverse events.
Subgroup analysis:
General subgroups for analyses are defined based on age, sex, and risk (for hip and
vertebral fractures). Stratification groups are presented in the table on "Number of
participants to be included in the investigation" included above. In addition, subgroup
analyses are done to monitor treatment effects, as described in the exploratory endpoint
of Part 2.