FIND-AF Pilot
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot study of risk-guided systematic atrial fibrillation screening
IRAS ID
318197
Contact name
Chris P Gale
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
11 years, 6 months, 27 days
Research summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart beat problem where the heart beats irregularly. It increases the risk of stroke by five-fold. If people with AF take tablets called oral anticoagulants they reduce the chance of stroke. However, up to one-third of people with AF are undetected causing about 15,000 strokes a year in the UK. It has been shown that detecting AF early can prevent strokes.
The FIND-AF risk score uses patient information held at GP surgeries to identify people who are likely to have undiagnosed AF, and is available to GPs. The research team seek to determine if providing a period of ECG monitoring to people identified at higher risk of AF will lead to more AF being diganosed.
People, who would be eligible for oral anticoagulation if they had AF detected, will be categorised as higher and lower risk by FIND-AF and invited to take part in the study. Participants will receive handheld ECG recorder for them to check their heart beat four times a day for 3 weeks, or whenever they feel their heart beating abnormally. If AF is detected the Participant and their GP will be informed, and they can then discuss whether to start an anticoagulant. The rate of detection of AF in participants identified as higher risk will be compared to lower risk participants. Higher risk participants will also be offered the opportunity to attend a research clinic where the research team will investigate if they also have other undiagnosed health problems.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0180
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion