Personalized approach using wearable technology for early detection of atrial fibrillation in high-risk primary care patients (PATCH-AF) : Study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved..

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia with a lifetime risk of one in 4. Unfortunately, AF often remains undetected, particularly when it is paroxysmal, for which single time-point evaluation is less effective. Recently, unobtrusive cardiac arrhythmia monitoring devices have become available, providing the opportunity to conduct prolonged electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring in a patient-friendly manner. We hypothesize that applying these devices in at risk patients may improve AF detection, particularly when used during repeated episodes. We therefore aim to evaluate the diagnostic yield of yearly screening for atrial fibrillation when using a wearable device for continuous ECG monitoring for 7 days in primary care patients ≥ 65 years deemed at high-risk of AF (CHA2DS2VASc score ≥3 for men or ≥4 for women) compared with usual care over a study period of 3 years.

METHODS: Primary care based, cluster-randomized controlled trial with 10 general practices randomized to the intervention group and 10 general practices randomized to control group. In each group, we aim to enroll 930 patients, ≥65 years and a CHA2DS2VASc score ≥3 for men or ≥ 4 for women. The intervention consists of continuous ECG monitoring for 7 days at start of the study (t = 0), after one (t = 1) and 2 years (t = 2). The control practices will follow usual diagnostic care procedures.

RESULTS: Results are expected in 2025.

CONCLUSIONS: This study differs from previous randomized controlled trials, as it involves longitudinal screening of a risk-stratified population. In case of a beneficial diagnostic yield, the PATCH-AF study will add to the evidence for AF screening.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The PATCH-AF study is registered at The Netherlands Trial Register (NTR number NL9656).

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:254

Enthalten in:

American heart journal - 254(2022) vom: 10. Dez., Seite 172-182

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Brik, Tessa [VerfasserIn]
Lucassen, Wim A M [VerfasserIn]
Harskamp, Ralf E [VerfasserIn]
Karregat, Evert P M [VerfasserIn]
Himmelreich, Jelle C L [VerfasserIn]
Busschers, Wim B [VerfasserIn]
Moll van Charante, Eric P [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Clinical Trial Protocol
Journal Article

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 19.12.2022

Date Revised 22.12.2022

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.ahj.2022.09.002

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM346168120