ECG monitoring to detect atrial fibrillation after stroke
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN97412358 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN97412358 |
| Protocol serial number | N/A |
| Sponsor | NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (UK) |
| Funder | Chief Scientist Office |
- Submission date
- 18/03/2010
- Registration date
- 28/04/2010
- Last edited
- 18/03/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Circulatory System
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular heart rate. It can cause blood clots in the heart, which can break up, escape from the heart and become lodged in the blood vessels supplying the brain, causing a stroke. Stroke patients with atrial fibrillation are therefore at a higher risk of having another stroke, but atrial fibrillation is not always identified by the standard investigations performed after a stroke. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a simple test to check the heart's rhythm and electrical activity. The aim of this study is to find out whether additional ECG monitoring early after stroke speeds up the detection of atrial fibrillation and the start of effective treatment.
Who can participate?
Patients who have had a stroke in the last week
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group receives standard care, and the other group receives additional ECG monitoring (two additional 12-lead ECGs plus 3 to 7 days' continuous ECG event monitoring). We assess the number of patients with detected atrial fibrillation and starting treatment for atrial fibrillation, the costs of investigation and treatment, patient acceptability, stroke recurrence, quality of life and survival in the two groups.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration
Where is the study run from?
Western Infirmary (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2010 to December 2016
Who is funding the study?
Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Kennedy Lees
k.r.lees@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Acute Stroke Unit & Cerebrovascular Clinic
Western Infirmary
44 Church Street
and
Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
University of Glasgow
Glasgow
G11 6NT
United Kingdom
| k.r.lees@clinmed.gla.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Evaluation of electrocardiographic monitoring strategy to identify atrial fibrillation in patients with recent acute stroke: a randomised controlled trial |
| Study objectives | Intensive investigation for atrial fibrillation amongst patients with acute stroke or confirmed transient ischaemic attack (TIA) who are admitted or initially assessed in sinus rhythm will detect 5% who have unrecognised episodes of atrial fibrillation/flutter; and 3.5% who will be suitable to commence oral anticoagulation, rendering a policy of more intensive investigation cost-effective in the NHS. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Scotland A Research Ethics Committee, 17/08/2009, ref: 09/MRE00/59 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Ischaemic stroke |
| Intervention | Control: standard care Intervention: two additional 12-lead ECGs plus 3 - 7 days' continuous ECG event monitoring Duration of intervention: 7 days Duration of follow-up: 1 year direct; 5 years electronic |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Absolute number of patients with AF or atrial flutter detected within two weeks of stroke. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Secondary outcomes: |
| Completion date | 31/12/2016 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | All |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 5000 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Diagnosis of acute ischaemic stroke or confirmed transient ischaemic attack, within one week of symptom onset (participants are of any age and sex) 2. Brain imaging completed prior to enrolment is consistent with acute ischaemic damage and has excluded an alternative cause for symptoms 3. Sinus rhythm on screening ECG 4. Consent to participate from patient or approved proxy |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Clinical decision or expressed refusal to consider long term anticoagulation at a future date if cardio-embolism may be diagnosed 2. Pre-morbid condition or concomitant disease that would render subsequent secondary prevention of stroke inappropriate 3. Documented atrial fibrillation in past 4. Known durable cardiac source of embolism (eg mitral stenosis) or left ventricular akinesia, that would represent an indication for anticoagulation 5. Existing treatment with long term anticoagulation 6. Unlikely to be available for completion of study procedures |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/05/2010 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/12/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- Scotland
Study participating centre
G11 6NT
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/09/2013 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
18/03/2016: Plain English summary added.
