I-CATCHER

International Care Bundle Evaluation in Cerebral Hemorrhage Research (I-CATCHER)

a batched parallel cluster-randomized trial with a baseline period

2025

2025

A collaboration between Region SkĂ¥ne, Malmö, Sweden and The George Institute, Sydney, Australia

2024

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada joins trial on the 20th of October

Iceland joins trial on the 20th of October

 
 

Rate of Inclusion

As of 251110

y-axis patient number, x-axis weeks

Background

Spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) accounts for approximately 10-15% of all strokes but stands for 50% of stroke-related morbidity and mortality. Approximately half of all patients with ICH have a decreased level of consciousness at hospital admission. For many years, randomized clinical trial (RCTs) have failed to establish a specific beneficial treatment after ICH. A study conducted in low- and middle-income countries has demonstrated a beneficial effect of a treatment package consisting of early intensive blood pressure lowering, as well as the treatment of pyrexia and elevated blood glucose levels. The I-CATCHER team is now planning to extend the study in Sweden and Australia, as well as in other high-income countries. The study has a clear focus on implementation, aiming to bring changes to clinical practice by integrating the care bundle as part of well-organised multidisciplinary care in stroke settings. The widespread adoption of the Care Bundle will optimise the chances of patients all over the world surviving free of major disability after suffering an ICH.

I-CATCHER will investigate whether a structured treatment package (Care Bundle) improves the 6-month prognosis of patients with spontaneous Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) compared to standard care.

  • Randomized design

    Hospitals will be activated by batches and randomized into two groups in each batch over 3 phases (usual care, randomized evaluation, post-implementation blinded 6-month follow-up) according to the timing of the intervention (Care Bundle).

  • Implementation science

    a Type II Hybrid design promoting the systematic uptake of research findings and evidence-based practices into routine healthcare. Aiming to improve the quality, effectiveness, and accessibility of healthcare by understanding how to successfully integrate interventions into real-world practice.

  • Timeline

    Planned study start: Q4 2024

    Planned completion: Q4 2027

    Total study period per site: 1.5 years

  • Explore key study documents

    Study protocol. Patient Information. Informed consent.

Upcoming events

  • I-CATCHER Batch IV Start

    November 17 2025

    Sites launched in Australia, Canada, Italy, Malaysia, Hong Kong

  • European Stroke Organization Conference 2026

    12th ESOC in Maastricht, Netherlands

    6 - 8 May 2026

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