NCT01858779

Brief Summary

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cause of cardioembolism and a leading cause of ischemic stroke. The diagnosis of AF after cerebral ischemia is difficult to establish even during the treatment at specialised stroke units, as paroxysmal episodes may terminate spontaneously before arrival at the hospital and do not always show early recurrence. However, the diagnosis of AF is of particular clinical relevance since adaequate anticoagulation is one of the most effective secondary preventive treatments in stroke. The detection rate of AF after stroke increases progressively by extending the duration and intensity of cardiac monitoring. For this purpose innovative medical devices and implantable event recorders have been suggested. However, high socioeconomic expenses, malcompliance and the invasiveness of some of these approaches currently limit their use to a minority of affected patients, while the growing number of stroke survivors is lacking access to free and simple screening tools. For primary prevention, the measurement of the peripheral pulse (MPP) is currently the only guideline-recommended screening method among individuals aged 65 years or older. In contrast, MPP has never been applied in the setting of secondary stroke prevention, probably because several factors were expected to interfere with this simple technique, including sensomotor and neuropsychiologic handicaps of stroke patients 18. This study investigates feasibility and validity of MPP in this cohort (pilot phase) and compares daily MPP for 6 months with repeated holter-ECG in patients after ischemic stroke.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
300

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
Completed

Started May 2013

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2013

Completed
12 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 13, 2013

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 21, 2013

Completed
6.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 10, 2020

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

February 10, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

February 12, 2020

Status Verified

February 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

6.8 years

First QC Date

May 13, 2013

Last Update Submit

February 10, 2020

Conditions

Keywords

strokeatrial fibrillationsecondary prevention of strokeperipheral pulse measurement

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Number of newly detected cases of atrial fibrillation

    6 months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Comparison of detection rates by MPP and by serial holter ECG (3 months, 6 months)

    6 months

  • Timepoint of detection of atrial fibrillation by MPP or holter ECG

    6 months

  • Modification of secondary preventive medication by detection of atrial fibrillation

    6 months

  • Recurrent stroke and mortality

    6 months

Study Arms (1)

Study-cohort

Patients after ischemic stroke without a history of atrial fibrillation will perform measurements of peripheral pulse three times daily and in case of symptomatic arrhythmic episodes. Results will be entered into a diary which will be send to the center every month. In parallel to the measurements, patients will transmit ECGs via a mobile ECG recorder to the study center. At 3 and 6 months after inclusion patients will be evaluated using 72h holter ECG. During the whole study period AEs as well as SAEs and changes in medications are recorded.

Behavioral: Measurement of peripheral pulseDevice: 72h holter ECG

Interventions

All patients will be introduced and trained for the measurement of peripheral pulse. Patients will keep a pulse-diary tro detect atrial fibrillation.

Study-cohort

All petients will receive regular 72h Holter ECG at 3 and 6 months after inclusion in the study.

Also known as: Regular 72h Holter ECGs are used
Study-cohort

Eligibility Criteria

Age50 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

Patients with acute ischemic stroke without the history of atrial fibrillation

You may qualify if:

  • Acute cerebral ischemia and treatment on our stroke unit
  • No previous history of AF and no evidence of AF during complete diagnostic work up (including at least ECG, telemetric monitoring, transthoracic echocardiography, extracranial und transcranial dopplersonography, routine laboratory)
  • Patient and/ relatives understand study procedures and is willing and able to learn the method of pulse measurements
  • Min. CHADS2-Score of 1 (prior to present stroke)
  • Age 50 and above

You may not qualify if:

  • Previously documented episode of atrial fibrillation or flutter
  • Patient and/or relatives are unable to reliably perform pulse self measurement

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; Dept. of Neurology

Erlangen, Bavaria, 91054, Germany

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Kallmunzer B, Bobinger T, Kopp M, Kurka N, Arnold M, Hilz MJ, Schwab S, Kohrmann M. Impact of heart rate dynamics on mortality in the early phase after ischemic stroke: a prospective observational trial. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2015 May;24(5):946-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2014.12.009. Epub 2015 Mar 21.

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

StrokeAtrial Fibrillation

Interventions

Electrocardiography, Ambulatory

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular DisordersBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesVascular DiseasesCardiovascular DiseasesArrhythmias, CardiacHeart DiseasesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

ElectrocardiographyHeart Function TestsDiagnostic Techniques, CardiovascularDiagnostic Techniques and ProceduresDiagnosisElectrodiagnosisMonitoring, AmbulatoryMonitoring, Physiologic

Study Officials

  • Martin Köhrmann, MD

    Universitätsklinikum Erlangen

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Bernd Kallmünzer, MD

    Universitätsklinikum Erlangen

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
MD

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 13, 2013

First Posted

May 21, 2013

Study Start

May 1, 2013

Primary Completion

February 10, 2020

Study Completion

February 10, 2020

Last Updated

February 12, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-02

Locations