SMART-ALERT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Continuous Rhythm Monitoring with Implantable Cardiac Monitors And Wearable Devices With Real-time Smartphone Alerts During Atrial Fibrillation Episodes
IRAS ID
294367
Contact name
Tim Betts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospital NHS foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia affecting 1.3 million people in the UK. AF causes an irregular and fast heartbeat, which makes the heart pump poorly. As a result, blood clots may form inside the heart and, if they travel to the brain, can lead to an AF-related stroke. Patients with AF have a risk of stroke five-times higher than patients with normal rhythm.
Anticoagulants make the blood less likely to clot and, thus, reduce the chances of an AF-related stroke. For most people, once anticoagulation is started it must be taken for the rest of their lives irrespective of the amount of AF someone has. However, anticoagulants make patients more prone to bleeding.
New studies have reported a lower stroke risk in patients with short and infrequent AF episodes. If there are long time gaps in between AF episodes, short periods of anticoagulation around the time of AF may be enough to avoid clots from forming and reducing the overall risk of bleeding. To use anticoagulants only when needed will require an accurate and reliable way to detect AF when it occurs and alert patients. New technologies, such as small heart monitors placed under the skin, watches and rings, can track the heart rhythm continuously and send real-time alerts to patients via mobile phone message if AF is detected
The purpose of this study is to investigate if implantable cardiac monitors (LINQ II) and wearable devices (Apple Watch and CART-I ring) can detect AF episodes, send real-time alerts to patients and who will respond to these alerts within a short timeframe. We will recruit 50 patients and follow them for six months; all participant will receive a LINQ II and a wearable device.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/WM/0217
Date of REC Opinion
26 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion