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
Sites (9)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homa Bay Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Homa Bay | Kenya | Unknown status |
| Mbagathi Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Mbagathi | Kenya | Unknown status |
| Migori Referral Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Migori | Kenya | Unknown status |
| Coast General Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Mombasa | Kenya | Unknown status |
| UTH - University Teaching Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Lusaka | Zambia | Unknown status |
| Matero Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Lusaka | Zambia | Unknown status |
| Parirenyatwa Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Harare | Zimbabwe | Unknown status |
| Chitungwiza Central Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Harare | Zimbabwe | Unknown status |
| Sally Mugabe Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Harare | Zimbabwe | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.