Antimalarial Chemoprophylaxis for Forest Goers in Southeast Asia: An Open-Label, Individually Randomised Controlled Trial

Authors

Rupam Tripura, Mahidol University
Lorenz von Seidlin, Mahidol University
Siv Sovannaroth, National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Thomas J. Peto, Mahidol University
James J. Callery, Mahidol University
Meas Sokha, Mahidol University
Mom Ean, Mahidol University
Chhouen Heng, Mahidol University
Franca Conradis-Jansen, University of Heidelberg
Wanassanan Madmanee, Mahidol University
Pimnara Peerawaranun, Mahidol University
Naomi Waithira, Mahidol University
Panarasri Khonputsa, Mahidol University
Monnaphat Jongdeepaisal, Mahidol University
Kulchada Pongsoipetch, Mahidol University
Paphapisa Chotthanawathit, Mahidol University
Ung Soviet, Stung Treng Provincial Health Department, Stung Treng, Cambodia
Christopher Pell, University of Amsterdam
Jureeporn Duanguppama, Mahidol University
Huy Rekol, National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Joel Tarning, Mahidol University
Mallika Imwong, Mahidol University
Mavuto Mukaka, Mahidol University
Nicholas J. White, Mahidol University
Arjen M. Dondorp, Mahidol University
Richard J. Maude, Harvard University

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2023

Citation

Lancet Infectious Diseases (2023) 23: 81-90

https://doi.org/10.1016/ S1473-3099(22)00492-3

Also available at https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00492-3/fulltext

Comments

Copyright 2023, the authors. Open access material

License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0 International)

Abstract

Summary

Background

Malaria in the eastern Greater Mekong subregion has declined to historic lows. Countries in the Greater Mekong subregion are accelerating malaria elimination in the context of increasing antimalarial drug resistance. Infections are now increasingly concentrated in remote, forested foci. No intervention has yet shown satisfactory efficacy against forest-acquired malaria. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of malaria chemoprophylaxis among forest goers in Cambodia.

Methods

We conducted an open-label, individually randomized controlled trial in Cambodia, which recruited participants aged 16–65 years staying overnight in forests. Participants were randomly allocated 1:1 to antimalarial chemoprophylaxis, a 3-day course of twice-daily artemether–lumefantrine followed by the same daily dosing once a week while travelling in the forest and for a further 4 weeks after leaving the forest (four tablets per dose; 20 mg of artemether and 120 mg of lumefantrine per tablet), or a multivitamin with no antimalarial activity. Allocations were done according to a computer-generated randomization schedule, and randomization was in permuted blocks of size ten and stratified by village. Investigators and participants were not masked to drug allocation, but laboratory investigations were done without knowledge of allocation. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of either clinical malaria with any Plasmodium species within 1–28, 29–56, or 57–84 days, or subclinical infection detected by PCR on days 28, 56, or 84 using complete-case analysis of the intention-to-treat population. Adherence to study drug was assessed primarily by self-reporting during follow-up visits. Adverse events were assessed in the intention-to-treat population as a secondary endpoint from self-reporting at any time, plus a physical examination and symptom questionnaire at follow-up. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04041973) and is complete.

Findings

Between March 11 and November 20, 2020, 1,480 individuals were enrolled, of whom 738 were randomly assigned to artemether–lumefantrine and 742 to the multivitamin. 713 participants in the artemether–lumefantrine group and 714 in the multivitamin group had a PCR result or confirmed clinical malaria by rapid diagnostic test during follow-up. During follow-up, 19 (3%, 95% CI 2–4) of 713 participants had parasitaemia or clinical malaria in the artemether– lumefantrine group and 123 (17%, 15–20) of 714 in the multivitamin group (absolute risk difference 15%, 95% CI 12–18; p < 0·0001). During follow-up, there were 166 malaria episodes caused by Plasmodium vivax, 14 by Plasmodium falciparum, and five with other or mixed species infections. The numbers of participants with P. vivax were 18 (3%, 95% CI 2–4) in the artemether–lumefantrine group versus 112 (16%, 13–19) in the multivitamin group (absolute risk difference 13%, 95% CI 10–16; p < 0.0001). The numbers of participants with P. falciparum were two (0.3%, 95% CI 0.03–1.01) in the artemether–lumefantrine group versus 12 (1·7%, 0.9–2.9) in the multivitamin group (absolute risk difference 1·4%, 95% CI 0.4–2·4; p = 0.013). Overall reported adherence to the full course of medication was 97% (95% CI 96–98; 1,797 completed courses out of 1,854 courses started) in the artemether–lumefantrine group and 98% (97–98; 1,842 completed courses in 1,885 courses started) in the multivitamin group. Overall prevalence of adverse events was 1.9% (355 events in 18,806 doses) in the artemether–lumefantrine group and 1.1% (207 events in 19,132 doses) in the multivitamin group (p < 0.0001).

Interpretation

Antimalarial chemoprophylaxis with artemether–lumefantrine was acceptable and well tolerated and substantially reduced the risk of malaria. Malaria chemoprophylaxis among high-risk groups such as forest workers could be a valuable tool for accelerating elimination in the Greater Mekong subregion.