Original Investigation 

Caring for the Critically Ill Patient

May 19, 2025

Dexmedetomidine- or Clonidine-Based Sedation Compared With Propofol in Critically Ill Patients: The A2B Randomized Clinical Trial

Timothy S. Walsh, Richard A. Parker, Leanne M. Aitken, et al

JAMA. Published online May 19, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.7200

Key Points

Question  Does primary sedation with dexmedetomidine or clonidine (α₂-adrenergic receptor agonists), compared with propofol-based sedation (usual care), decrease the time to successful extubation in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation?

Findings  In this pragmatic, multicentered, randomized clinical trial including patients expected to require at least 48 hours of mechanical ventilation, neither dexmedetomidine- nor clonidine-based sedation decreased the time to successful extubation compared with propofol-based sedation.

Meaning  Among critically ill patients expected to require at least 48 hours of mechanical ventilation, neither dexmedetomidine- nor clonidine-based sedation was superior to propofol-based sedation.

Abstract

Importance  Whether α₂-adrenergic receptor agonist–based sedation, compared with propofol-based sedation, reduces time to extubation in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) is uncertain.

Objective  To evaluate whether dexmedetomidine- or clonidine-based sedation reduces duration of mechanical ventilation compared with propofol-based sedation (usual care).

Design, Setting, and Participants  Pragmatic, open-label randomized clinical trial conducted at 41 ICUs in the UK including adults who were within 48 hours of starting mechanical ventilation, were receiving propofol plus an opioid for sedation and analgesia, and were expected to require mechanical ventilation for 48 hours or longer. The median time from intubation to randomization was 21.0 (IQR, 13.2-31.3) hours. Recruitment occurred from December 2018 to October 2023; the last follow-up occurred on December 10, 2023.

Interventions  The bedside algorithms used targeted a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale score of −2 to 1 (unless clinicians requested deeper sedation). The algorithms supported uptitration in the dexmedetomidine- and clonidine-based sedation intervention groups and supported downtitration for propofol-based sedation followed by sedation primarily with the allocated sedation (dexmedetomidine or clonidine). If required, supplemental use of propofol was permitted.

Main Outcomes and Measures  The primary outcome was time from randomization to successful extubation. The secondary outcomes included mortality, sedation quality, rates of delirium, and cardiovascular adverse events.

Results  Among the 1404 patients in the analysis population (mean age, 59.2 [SD, 14.9] years; 901 [64%] were male; and the mean APACHE II score was 20.3 [SD, 8.2]), the subdistribution hazard ratio (HR) for time to successful extubation was 1.09 (95% CI, 0.96-1.25; P = .20) for dexmedetomidine (n = 457) vs propofol (n = 471) and was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.95-1.17; P = .34) for clonidine (n = 476) vs propofol (n = 471). The median time from randomization to successful extubation was 136 (95% CI, 117-150) hours for dexmedetomidine, 146 (95% CI, 124-168) hours for clonidine, and 162 (95% CI, 136-170) hours for propofol. In the predefined subgroup analyses, there were no interactions with age, sepsis status, median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, or median delirium risk score. Among the secondary outcomes, agitation occurred at a higher rate with dexmedetomidine vs propofol (risk ratio [RR], 1.54 [95% CI, 1.21-1.97]) and with clonidine vs propofol (RR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.22-1.97]). Compared with propofol, the rates of severe bradycardia (heart rate <50/min) were higher with dexmedetomidine (RR, 1.62 [95% CI, 1.36-1.93]) and clonidine (RR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.33-1.88]). Compared with propofol, mortality was similar over 180 days for dexmedetomidine (HR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.77-1.24]) and clonidine (HR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.82-1.31]).

Conclusions and Relevance  In critically ill patients, neither dexmedetomidine nor clonidine was superior to propofol in reducing time to successful extubation.

Trial Registration  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03653832