Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Recent Stroke or TIA: Validity of Automated Loop-recording (Rtest) Compared to Holter Recording and Predictive Value of Short Runs of Atrial Fibrillation and an Excess Supraventricular Extra Systoles for a New Stroke

The LOOP trial aims to clarify whether stroke can be prevented by monitoring the heart rhythm with a small device (called a loop recorder). The recorder is placed under the skin on the front of the chest, which allows monitoring of the heart rhythm 24-hours a day 7 days a week.
www.loop-study.dk

Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation and Relationship With Cardiovascular Events, Heart Failure, and Mortality (Netherlands)

This study investigated the incidence of AF in a contemporary cohort in the Netherlands, together with comorbidities associated with AF and associations of AF with cardiovascular outcomes.

In 8265 participants of the Dutch Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease (PREVEND) study in Groningenm The Netherlands, incident AF was ascertained on hospital – and study electrocardiograms.
http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=2430618#tab1

Randomized trial on AF screening by general practitioners; large scale AF screening implementation by GPs Netherlands.

IntegRAted CarE for Atrial Fibrillation

Netherlands  – primary objective is the show that an ICCP reduces cardiovascular hospitalization’s and mortality. The secondary objectives include cost-effectiveness, guideline adherence, quality of life, patient knowledge and patient compliance in medication.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01740037

mHealth Screening to Prevent Strokes

The purpose of this study is to propose to study two different methods of intermittent rhythm monitoring in a cohort of individuals without prior history of atrial fibrillation, but determined to be at increased risk based on clinical risk factors, and compare the rate of atrial fibrillation detection through monitoring relative to routine care.
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02506244

Detecting and Diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation (D₂AF): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

This study aims to determine the yield of case-finding for atrial fibrillation in primary care patients. In addition, it will determine the diagnostic accuracy of three different case-finding methods.
http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/16/1/478
http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=4914

Opportunistic Screening for Atrial Fibrillation in a Rural Area (Ireland)

Opportunistic AF screening in a rural environment identified a substantial number of new cases, although less than in previous screening studies.
http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/01/27/qjmed.hcw011.

Assessment of remote heart rhythm sampling using the AliveCor® heart monitor to screen for atrial fibrillation

It is proposed that the AliveCor system will be trialled as a means of identifying patients with AF in the community in order to facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment to reduce the incidence of major cardiovascular events (notably stroke).
http://www.hra.nhs.uk/news/research-summaries/alivecor-2/
http://public.ukcrn.org.uk/search/StudyDetail.aspx?StudyID=19952

Program for the Identification of “Actionable” Atrial Fibrillation (PIAAF): In the Home-Based Setting

The Screen-AF team will investigate new portable devices to screen patients for AF in their own home.  Through the Screen-AF study we hope to establish a practical and cost effective screening strategy where a patient could test for AF without disrupting their everyday routines and not have to go to labs or doctors’ offices to get testing done.
PIAAF-Home (Screen AF) – ClinicalTrials.gov

Program for the Identification of “Actionable” Atrial Fibrillation (PIAAF): In the Pharmacy Setting

Along with screening for AF, participants in this study will also be screened for hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes.  Studies have shown that a person will visit a pharmacy five-times more often than any other healthcare provider. Pharmacists are the third largest group of health professionals in Canada. They are highly accessible, and often the first point of entry in the healthcare system and an essential link between patients and other healthcare providers.
PIAAF-Pharmacy

Prevalence of Sub-Clinical Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Patients With Hypertension, Detected Using an External Loop Recorder

Patients in the ASSERT III study will be monitored over a 60 day period for the development of subclinical AF via an external loop recorder. The device will automatically record and transmit ECGs through a BlackBerry Smartphone. The primary hypothesis is that among this elderly population with hypertension and a least one other risk factor for AF, the monitoring will detect AF in at least 10% of patients who would be potential candidates for anticoagulant therapy.
ASSERT III – ClinicalTrials.gov