Overview
The goal of this follow-on pilot randomized clinical trial is to obtain additional preliminary data to inform a larger, adequately powered phase 2b trial of daridorexant for the prevention of postoperative delirium after heart surgery. Having demonstrated feasibility in a prior study (RSRB #9841), this study aims to estimate the effect of daridorexant on (1) reducing delirium symptom burden and incidence and (2) improving self-reported sleep quality during the postoperative period, and (3) to assess the feasibility of collecting objective sleep data in the postoperative setting.
Participants will: complete a baseline visit; take the study drug, either daridorexant or placebo, each of the first three nights after heart surgery; and be evaluated daily for sleep and delirium during the first three postoperative days. Participants will also have the option of wearing a sleep monitor in the hospital each of the first three nights after surgery.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- ≥ 60 yrs;
- having surgical aortic valve surgery or coronary artery bypass graft surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital;
- can provide consent;
- able to speak, read,and write English (as the instruments, including semi-structured interviews, used in this protocol have been validated in English);
- family member or close friend for collateral.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Prior cardiotomy
- Infectious endocarditis
- Emergency surgery
- Delirium at baseline (positive 3D-CAM)
- Auditory or visual impairment that prevents study procedures
- Alcohol or substance misuse (CAGE-AID score ≥ 2)
- Psychotic disorder
- Dementia-level deficits (TICS \< 27)
- Use of a prescription sleep aid at least every other night
- Use of a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (e.g., ceritinib, clarithromycin, cobicistat, idelalisib, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, posaconazole, ritonavir, telithromycin, voriconazole)
- Daridorexant intolerance
- Severe kidney or liver impairment (Child-Pugh ≥7, Cockcroft-Gault \<30 mL/min, or on dialysis)
- Narcolepsy
- Suicidal ideation at baseline
- Any condition that, in the PI's opinion, compromises patient safety or data quality
- Additional exclusions for the NLP exploratory aim: history of traumatic brain injury or head concussions with loss of consciousness, use of corticosteroids, or history of major neurological disease or brain surgery