Observations on autonomic and vascular function in patients with AF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Observations on autonomic and vascular function in patients with atrial fibrillation\n
IRAS ID
243561
Contact name
Gregory Y H Lip
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 25 days
Research summary
Study 1\n\nAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly. People with AF often have high blood pressure (hypertension). It is thought that the dynamics between AF and hypertension affect the characteristics of blood vessels and autonomic nervous system (part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed). We will attempt to assess the function of the blood vessels and autonomic nervous system in patients with AF and hypertension. The second arm of this study will assess whether improving blood pressure control affects the characteristics of blood vessels and autonomic nervous system function. Patients will have their blood pressure treatment optimised in hypertension clinic and their vascular and autonomic function re-assessed after 8 weeks. \n\nStudy 2\n\nThis study will look at the autonomic and vascular function in patients who have atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) picked up by their device (permanent pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD)). It is perceived that these patients are at high risk of developing AF and subsequently at an increased risk of the complications associated with it. We will compare the function of blood vessels and autonomic nervous system in two subgroups within this patient population - one with high arrhythmia burden as recorded by their relevant device and the other with low arrhythmia burden and look for differences. \n\nStudy 3\n\nWe will study the structure of a blood clot in patients with AF and hypertension. This will improve our understanding of the type of clot formed as a result of these conditions, which can potentially have important implications for management of cardio-embolic stroke (stroke as a result of a clot from within the heart). Separate plasma samples will be collected from patients recruited in study 1 which will be then analysed in a laboratory to determine clot structure.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1064
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion