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The SPARC Trial: Specialty Care for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

This study, called the SPARC Trial, is looking at whether adults who have been brought back to life after a cardiac arrest (when the heart suddenly stops) outside of a hospital benefit more from being treated at a specialized center. You could be eligible if you are 18 or older, had a cardiac arrest outside the hospital, and were successfully resuscitated in an emergency department at a participating hospital. The study wants to see if transferring people to a hospital with a specialized cardiac arrest service improves their ability to function after 90 days. Some participants will be offered transfer to a regional cardiac arrest center, while others will receive care at the closest appropriate hospital. The study is currently unclear about its recruitment status and plans to enroll 1618 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study that will randomly assign participants to either transfer to specialty care or receive usual care. It plans to enroll 1618 participants.
What's involved
Participants will receive usual medical care, and some will be offered transfer to a regional cardiac arrest center. Investigators will interview participants after 90 days to assess their recovery.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 90 days after their cardiac arrest to assess their recovery.

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NCT07002294

The Effect of SPecialty cAre on Recovery From Cardiac Arrest Trial (the SPARC Trial)

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
University of Pittsburgh
~1,618 participants
Updated 2026-08-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Transfer to specialty careUsual care

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Modified Rankin Scale
Measured over 90 Days post arrest

Conditions

Cardiac Arrest (CA)
Heart Arrest
Heart Arrest, Out-Of-Hospital

Explore related trials

Cardiac Arrest

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania1

Study leadership

  • Jonathan Elmer, MD, MS · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pittsburgh

Who to contact

Sara DiFiore-Sprouse
[email protected]
4128642284
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
Resuscitated from cardiac arrest with palpable pulse in the emergency department
Treated at one of participating hospital emergency departments
Age ≥18 years

Exclusion

Known prior advanced directives or decision to limit critical care
Known pre-arrest dependent functional status (e.g., living in a skilled nursing facility, hospice or bedbound)
Arrest in the emergency department \>4 hours after arrival
Traumatic etiology of arrest
Known to have opted-out from the SPARC trial

What this trial measures

  • Modified Rankin Scale90 Days post arrest

    The Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a measure of functional recovery, measured 90 days after cardiac arrest. A Modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 0 corresponds to full functional recovery and a Modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 6 corresponds to death, with progressively worse functional outcomes at higher scores. Intermediate values reflect progressive functional dependence, with higher scores reflecting greater dependence on others.