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NCT05994742CompletedPhase 3

An Adaptive Multi-arm Trial to Improve Clinical Outcomes Among Children Recovering From Complicated SAM

Co-SAM: An Adaptive Multi-arm Trial to Improve Clinical Outcomes Among Children Recovering From Complicated Severe Acute Malnutrition

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 25 Aug 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

Malnutrition underlies 45% of child deaths, and has far-reaching educational, economic and health consequences. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) affects 17 million children globally and is the most life-threatening form of malnutrition. Community-based management of acute malnutrition using ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) has transformed outcomes for children with uncomplicated SAM, but those presenting with poor appetite or medical complications (categorised as having 'complicated' SAM) require hospitalisation. Data show that pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria are leading causes of death in children with complicated SAM after discharge from hospital. High risk of infectious deaths suggests that sustained antimicrobial interventions may reduce mortality following discharge from hospital. Furthermore, children with complicated SAM respond less well to nutritional rehabilitation, and oftentimes are discharged to a home environment characterised by poverty and multiple caregiver vulnerabilities including depression, low decision making autonomy, lack of social support, gender-restricted family relations, and competing demands on scarce resources. Caregivers have to navigate diverse challenges that impede engagement with clinical care after discharge from hospital. The objective is to address the biological and social determinants of multimorbidity in children with complicated SAM by comparing an antimicrobial intervention with standard of care.

Status (registry)
Completed
Phase (registry)
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
674 (actual)
First submitted
14 Jul 2023
Start date
15 Jul 2024
Primary completion date
30 Jul 2026
Lead sponsor
Queen Mary University of London
Diseases
HIV
NCT number
NCT05994742

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional · Phase 3
  • Participants enrolled: 674
  • From 15 Jul 2024 to the primary completion date, 30 Jul 2026
  • 9 sites in 3 countries
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Other illness

  • Any acute or chronic condition which mean that receipt of one or more study interventions, or participation in the trial, would not be advisable.

Who the study is looking for

  • Age 6-59 months, of either sex
  • Hospitalised with complicated severe acute malnutrition, as per WHO definition
  • Started transition to RUTF
  • Caregiver willing and able to attend the study clinic for all visits
  • Caregiver able and willing to give informed consent

Age in the registry: 6 months to 59 months · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (9)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
Homa Bay
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
Homa BayKenyaUnknown status
Mbagathi Hospital
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MbagathiKenyaUnknown status
Migori Referral Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
MigoriKenyaUnknown status
Coast General
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
MombasaKenyaUnknown status
UTH - University Teaching Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
LusakaZambiaUnknown status
Matero Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
LusakaZambiaUnknown status
Parirenyatwa Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
HarareZimbabweUnknown status
Chitungwiza Central Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
HarareZimbabweUnknown status
Sally Mugabe Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
HarareZimbabweUnknown status

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.