Clinical Research Directory

The Southern-Norway Post-Stroke Atrial Fibrillation Study

This study evaluates whether a procedure using a new wireless heart sensor patch is equal to or better than the standard hospital procedures and equipment at detecting an irregular heartbeat called Atrial Fibrillation (AF) after an ischemic stroke. Atrial fibrillation is a major cause of stroke, but it can be difficult to catch because it often comes and goes. The study will include approximately 450 adults who have had a stroke or a transient "mini-stroke" (TIA) within the last two weeks. Participants will be assigned by chance (randomized) to one of two groups: * Group 1 (Intervention): Participants wear the "ECG247 Smart Heart Sensor." This is a small patch that sticks to the chest and connects to a smartphone. It is worn continuously for up to 14 days, even after leaving the hospital. * Group 2 (Standard Care): Participants receive the standard hospital check-up. This typically involves using a "Holter monitor" (a device with wires and electrodes) for a period of about 24 to 48 hours some time after leaving the hospital. The main goal is to see if the procedure using the patch is equal to the standard procedure in detecting atrial fibrillation in participants. The study will also measure how quickly doctors can start the correct medication and how easy the patients find the devices to use.

RAFT - Pace &Ablate

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heartbeat that can cause symptoms of skipped beats, shortness of breath, stroke, or in some cases fluid in the lungs or legs. Treating AF is mostly to do with slowing the heart rate down so that the heart can get a chance to regain some energy. In some cases, slowing the heart rate is not easy to achieve as some patients find it difficult to tolerate medications and suffer side effects from these treatments. In these instances, there might be a possibility to permanently control the heart rate by implanting a pacemaker in the heart and intentionally damaging a regulatory region of the heart called the atrioventricular (AV) node. Damaging the AV node by a procedure called ablation results in the AF not being able to influence the bottom chambers (the ventricles) resulting in a slow rhythm. Therefore, if a pacemaker is implanted then the heart rate can be completely regulated by the pacemaker. A complex pacemaker that stimulates both the right and left ventricles simultaneously (BiVP) has been used for the last decade prior to AV node ablation. More recently, a technique has been designed to reduce the number of leads in the heart, reduce procedure time and have a similar effect on the heart called Conduction System Pacing (CSP). There is not enough existing evidence to show that a pace and ablate strategy is superior to optimal medical therapy. We intend to compare the efficacy of CSP with AV node ablation to optimal medical therapy for treating AF.