NCT02105844

Brief Summary

Swiss-AF is a prospective observational, multicentric cohort study in Switzerland. Overall, 2600 patients with documented atrial fibrillation aged \>65 years will be included and followed on a yearly basis. Yearly clinical examinations include a detailed questionnaire on personal characteristics, a resting electrocardiogram, neurocognitive function tests and questionnaires on disability and quality of life. Blood sampling and brain magnetic resonance imaging are scheduled at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up. The main study aims of this long term prospective study are to increase our knowledge on structural brain damage and its changes over time in patients with atrial fibrillation, to gain additional insights on the incidence and underlying mechanisms of cognitive decline in patients with atrial fibrillation and to evaluate the interrelationships of structural and functional brain damage in this population.

Trial Health

75
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
2,415

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
47mo left

Started Mar 2014

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
active not recruiting

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 Progress76%
Mar 2014Mar 2030

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 1, 2014

Completed
27 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 28, 2014

Completed
10 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 7, 2014

Completed
15.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 1, 2030

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2030

Last Updated

July 9, 2025

Status Verified

July 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

16 years

First QC Date

March 28, 2014

Last Update Submit

July 8, 2025

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation

Keywords

atrial fibrillationdementiacognitive dysfunctionstrokeMagnetic resonance imaging

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Stroke or systemic embolism

    2018 (after an average of 2.5 years of follow-up)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Hospitalization for heart failure

    2018 (after an average of 2.5 years of follow-up)

Study Arms (1)

Atrial Fibrillation

Cohort Study on patients with atrial fibrillation in Switzerland

Eligibility Criteria

Age45 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

Consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation

You may qualify if:

  • atrial fibrillation documented within the last 24 months
  • age \>=45 years

You may not qualify if:

  • acute illness
  • inability to provide informed consent
  • Only short episodes of reversible forms of atrial fibrillation

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University Hospital

Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4031, Switzerland

Location

Related Publications (22)

  • Kupper BC, Reiner MF, Werlen L, Aeschbacher S, Lee P, Allemann MS, Moschovitis G, Luscher T, Camici GG, Rodondi N, Adam L, Meyre PB, Bonati LH, Sinnecker T, Kuhne M, Osswald S, Conen D, Beer JH; Swiss-AF Investigators. Plasma beta-Thromboglobulin Is Inversely Associated With Cerebral Microbleeds in Atrial Fibrillation. Stroke. 2025 Dec;56(12):3414-3423. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.124.049972. Epub 2025 Sep 17.

    PMID: 40959897DERIVED

  • Iten V, Herber E, Coslovsky M, Hennings E, Paladini RE, Reichlin T, Rodondi N, Muller AS, Stauber A, Beer JH, Brenner R, Conte G, Kobza R, Di Valentino M, Bedoya PC, Moradi F, Sinnecker T, Bonati LH, Kuhne M, Osswald S, Conen D, Aeschbacher S, Zuern CS; Swiss-AF and Beat-AF Investigators. Coffee consumption and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation. BMC Med. 2024 Dec 18;22(1):593. doi: 10.1186/s12916-024-03817-x.

    PMID: 39696255DERIVED

  • Barbagallo M, Springer A, Vanetta C, Allemann M, Lee P, Saeedi S, Aeschbacher S, Luciani M, Bonati LH, Moschovitis G, Scheu V, Rutishauser J, Kobza R, Di Valentino M, Meyre PB, Rodondi N, Conen D, Kuhne M, Osswald S, Beer JH; Swiss-AF investigators. Coffee Consumption Correlates With Better Cognitive Performance in Patients With a High Incidence for Stroke. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025 Jan 7;14(1):e034365. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.034365. Epub 2024 Dec 14.

    PMID: 39673298DERIVED

  • Carmine D, Aeschbacher S, Coslovsky M, Hennings E, Paladini RE, Peter R, Burger M, Reichlin T, Rodondi N, Muller AS, Ammann P, Conte G, Auricchio A, Moschovitis G, Bardoczi JB, Stauber A, De Perna ML, Zuern CS, Sinnecker T, Badertscher P, Sticherling C, Bonati LH, Conen D, Krisai P, Osswald S, Kuhne M. Blood pressure, brain lesions and cognitive decline in patients with atrial fibrillation. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2024 Sep 3;11:1449506. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1449506. eCollection 2024.

    PMID: 39314770DERIVED

  • Reiner MF, Bertschi DA, Werlen L, Wiencierz A, Aeschbacher S, Lee P, Rodondi N, Moutzouri E, Bonati L, Reichlin T, Moschovitis G, Rutishauser J, Kuhne M, Osswald S, Conen D, Beer JH. Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Markers of Thrombosis in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. Nutrients. 2024 Jan 5;16(2):178. doi: 10.3390/nu16020178.

    PMID: 38257071DERIVED

  • Stauber A, Muller A, Rommers N, Aeschbacher S, Rodondi N, Bonati LH, Beer JH, Jeger RV, Kurz DJ, Liedtke C, Ammann P, Di Valentino M, Chocano P, Kobza R, Kuhne M, Conen D, Osswald S, Bernheim AM. Association of chocolate consumption with neurological and cardiovascular outcomes in atrial fibrillation: data from two Swiss atrial fibrillation cohort studies (Swiss-AF and BEAT-AF). Swiss Med Wkly. 2023 Aug 23;153:40109. doi: 10.57187/smw.2023.40109.

    PMID: 37609948DERIVED

  • Hennings E, Blum S, Aeschbacher S, Coslovsky M, Knecht S, Eken C, Lischer M, Paladini RE, Krisai P, Reichlin T, Rodondi N, Beer JH, Ammann P, Conte G, De Perna ML, Kobza R, Blum MR, Bossard M, Kastner P, Ziegler A, Muller C, Bonati LH, Pfister O, Zuern CS, Conen D, Kuhne M, Osswald S; Swiss-AF Investigators. Bone Morphogenetic Protein 10-A Novel Biomarker to Predict Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Mar 21;12(6):e028255. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.028255. Epub 2023 Mar 16.

    PMID: 36926939DERIVED

  • Luciani M, Muller D, Vanetta C, Diteepeng T, von Eckardstein A, Aeschbacher S, Rodondi N, Moschovitis G, Reichlin T, Sinnecker T, Wuerfel J, Bonati LH, Saeedi Saravi SS, Chocano-Bedoya P, Coslovsky M, Camici GG, Luscher TF, Kuehne M, Osswald S, Conen D, Beer JH; SWISS-AF Investigators. Trimethylamine-N-oxide is associated with cardiovascular mortality and vascular brain lesions in patients with atrial fibrillation. Heart. 2023 Feb 14;109(5):396-404. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321300.

    PMID: 36593094DERIVED

  • Zwimpfer L, Aeschbacher S, Krisai P, Coslovsky M, Springer A, Paladini RE, Girod M, Hufschmid J, Knecht S, Badertscher P, Beer JH, Bonati LH, Zuern CS, Roten L, Reichlin T, Sticherling C, Conen D, Osswald S, Kuhne M. Neurocognitive function in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing pulmonary vein isolation. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Nov 25;9:1000799. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1000799. eCollection 2022.

    PMID: 36505379DERIVED

  • Girod M, Coslovsky M, Aeschbacher S, Sticherling C, Reichlin T, Roten L, Rodondi N, Ammann P, Auricchio A, Moschovitis G, Kobza R, Badertscher P, Knecht S, Krisai P, Marugg A, Aebersold H, Hennings E, Serra-Burriel M, Schwenkglenks M, Zuern CS, Bonati LH, Conen D, Osswald S, Kuhne M. Association of pulmonary vein isolation and major cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation. Clin Res Cardiol. 2022 Sep;111(9):1048-1056. doi: 10.1007/s00392-022-02015-0. Epub 2022 Apr 11.

    PMID: 35403852DERIVED

  • Rivolta MW, Mainardi LT, Laureanti R, Sassi R, Kuhne M, Rodondi N, Conte G, Moschovitis G, Schlageter V, Aeschbacher S, Conen D, Reichlin T, Roten L, Osswald S, Zuern CS, Auricchio A, Corino VDA. Association between ventricular repolarization parameters and cardiovascular death in patients of the SWISS-AF cohort. Int J Cardiol. 2022 Jun 1;356:53-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.03.009. Epub 2022 Mar 9.

    PMID: 35278571DERIVED

  • Kuhne M, Krisai P, Coslovsky M, Rodondi N, Muller A, Beer JH, Ammann P, Auricchio A, Moschovitis G, Hayoz D, Kobza R, Shah D, Stephan FP, Schlapfer J, Di Valentino M, Aeschbacher S, Ehret G, Eken C, Monsch A, Roten L, Schwenkglenks M, Springer A, Sticherling C, Reichlin T, Zuern CS, Meyre PB, Blum S, Sinnecker T, Wurfel J, Bonati LH, Conen D, Osswald S; Swiss-AF Investigators. Silent brain infarcts impact on cognitive function in atrial fibrillation. Eur Heart J. 2022 Jun 6;43(22):2127-2135. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac020.

    PMID: 35171989DERIVED

  • Bano A, Rodondi N, Beer JH, Moschovitis G, Kobza R, Aeschbacher S, Baretella O, Muka T, Stettler C, Franco OH, Conte G, Sticherling C, Zuern CS, Conen D, Kuhne M, Osswald S, Roten L, Reichlin T; of the Swiss-Investigators. Association of Diabetes With Atrial Fibrillation Phenotype and Cardiac and Neurological Comorbidities: Insights From the Swiss-AF Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 Nov 16;10(22):e021800. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.021800. Epub 2021 Nov 10.

    PMID: 34753292DERIVED

  • Hammerle P, Aeschbacher S, Springer A, Eken C, Coslovsky M, Dutilh G, Moschovitis G, Rodondi N, Chocano P, Conen D, Osswald S, Kuhne M, Zuern CS. Cardiac autonomic function and cognitive performance in patients with atrial fibrillation. Clin Res Cardiol. 2022 Jan;111(1):60-69. doi: 10.1007/s00392-021-01900-4. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

    PMID: 34156525DERIVED

  • Hammerle P, Eick C, Poli S, Blum S, Schlageter V, Bauer A, Rizas KD, Eken C, Coslovsky M, Aeschbacher S, Krisai P, Meyre P, Wuerfel J, Sinnecker T, Vesin JM, Beer JH, Moschovitis G, Bonati LH, Sticherling C, Conen D, Osswald S, Kuhne M, Zuern CS. Association of Heart Rate Variability With Silent Brain Infarcts in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 May 21;8:684461. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.684461. eCollection 2021.

    PMID: 34095266DERIVED

  • Benz AP, Aeschbacher S, Krisai P, Moschovitis G, Blum S, Meyre P, Blum MR, Rodondi N, Di Valentino M, Kobza R, De Perna ML, Bonati LH, Beer JH, Kuhne M, Osswald S, Conen D; BEAT-AF, Swiss-AF Investigators. Biomarkers of Inflammation and Risk of Hospitalization for Heart Failure in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 Apr 20;10(8):e019168. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.019168. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

    PMID: 33843247DERIVED

  • Reddiess P, Aeschbacher S, Meyre P, Coslovsky M, Kuhne M, Rodondi N, Baretella O, Beer JH, Kobza R, Moschovitis G, Di Valentino M, Muller C, Steiner F, Bonati LH, Sticherling C, Osswald S, Conen D; BEAT-AF and Swiss-AF investigators. Alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular outcomes and bleeding in patients with established atrial fibrillation. CMAJ. 2021 Jan 25;193(4):E117-E123. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.200778.

    PMID: 33667180DERIVED

  • Steiner F, Meyre PB, Aeschbacher S, Coslovsky M, Sinnecker T, Blum MR, Rodondi N, Cereda CW, di Valentino M, Wenger F, Cussigh A, Krisai P, Roten L, Reichlin T, Conen D, Osswald S, Bonati LH, Kuhne M; Swiss-AF Investigators. Association of the CHA2D(S2)-VASc Score and Its Components With Overt and Silent Ischemic Brain Lesions in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. Front Neurol. 2021 Jan 12;11:609234. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.609234. eCollection 2020.

    PMID: 33510705DERIVED

  • Aeschbacher S, Blum S, Meyre PB, Coslovsky M, Vischer AS, Sinnecker T, Rodondi N, Beer JH, Moschovitis G, Moutzouri E, Hunkeler C, Burkard T, Eken C, Roten L, Zuern CS, Sticherling C, Wuerfel J, Bonati LH, Conen D, Osswald S, Kuhne M; Swiss-AF Investigators*. Blood Pressure and Brain Lesions in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. Hypertension. 2021 Feb;77(2):662-671. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16025. Epub 2020 Dec 28.

    PMID: 33356398DERIVED

  • Meyre PB, Springer A, Aeschbacher S, Blum S, Rodondi N, Beer JH, Di Valentino M, Ammann P, Blum M, Mathys R, Meyer-Zurn C, Bonati LH, Sticherling C, Schwenkglenks M, Kuhne M, Conen D, Osswald S; Swiss-AF investigators. Association of psychosocial factors with all-cause hospitalizations in patients with atrial fibrillation. Clin Cardiol. 2021 Jan;44(1):51-57. doi: 10.1002/clc.23503. Epub 2020 Nov 10.

    PMID: 33169859DERIVED

  • Hammerle P, Eick C, Blum S, Schlageter V, Bauer A, Rizas KD, Eken C, Coslovsky M, Aeschbacher S, Krisai P, Meyre P, Vesin JM, Rodondi N, Moutzouri E, Beer J, Moschovitis G, Kobza R, Di Valentino M, Corino VDA, Laureanti R, Mainardi L, Bonati LH, Sticherling C, Conen D, Osswald S, Kuhne M, Zuern CS; Swiss-AF Study Investigators. Heart Rate Variability Triangular Index as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Aug 4;9(15):e016075. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.016075. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

    PMID: 32750290DERIVED

  • Gugganig R, Aeschbacher S, Leong DP, Meyre P, Blum S, Coslovsky M, Beer JH, Moschovitis G, Muller D, Anker D, Rodondi N, Stempfel S, Mueller C, Meyer-Zurn C, Kuhne M, Conen D, Osswald S; Swiss-AF Investigators. Frailty to predict unplanned hospitalization, stroke, bleeding, and death in atrial fibrillation. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. 2021 Jan 25;7(1):42-51. doi: 10.1093/ehjqcco/qcaa002.

    PMID: 31977016DERIVED

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

samples with DNA

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Atrial FibrillationDementiaCognitive DysfunctionStroke

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arrhythmias, CardiacHeart DiseasesCardiovascular DiseasesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesNeurocognitive DisordersMental DisordersCognition DisordersCerebrovascular DisordersVascular Diseases

Study Officials

  • Stefan Osswald, MD, Prof.

    University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

    STUDY DIRECTOR

  • Michael Kuehne, MD, PD, exec. MBA

    University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

  • David Conen, MD MPH

    McMaster University, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Canada

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 28, 2014

First Posted

April 7, 2014

Study Start

March 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2030

Last Updated

July 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

CH(1)