AliveCor
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of remote heart rhythm sampling to screen an at risk population of Atrial Fibrillation.
IRAS ID
167869
Contact name
Julian Halcox
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
ABMU Local Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of arrhythmia. AF increases the incidence of stroke six fold. Anticoagulation in AF, using well validated and simple risk stratification tools has shown to reduce the risk of stroke by 70%.
Episodes of AF can be asymptomatic, but the risk of stroke is no less in asymptomatic individuals. Any assessment of heart rhythm is a snap shot in time and in part relies on serendipity to identify patients with asymptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Primary care work has looked at the utility of random opportunistic pulse checks to identify possible patients with AF, which has been shown to be a cost effective way of identifying AF. This paradigm requires attendance to primary care, a subsequent ElectroCardioGram (ECG) to be performed and an accurate interpretation of the ECG trace. It remains a one off check.
The AliveCor monitoring system allows simple means of heart rhythm sampling and interpretation. The interpretation of the rhythm strip by the Web-based Alive Cor system has been validated and provides a rapid interpretation of heart rhythm that does not impact upon a busy primary care practice.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).
This is a randomised controlled clinical study designed to assess the utility of this monitoring system in an asymptomatic high risk population based in the community.
Improving health and well being improves quality of life and can reduce the need for health and care services. The study will assess the feasibility of a simple patient driven monitoring strategy that could impact upon the incidence of stroke by allowing earlier detection of AF and more timely outpatient treatment to prevent stroke.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
14/WA/1227
Date of REC Opinion
27 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion