Preventing Recurrent Cardioembolic Stroke
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Preventing Recurrent Cardioembolic Stroke – Right Approach, Right Patient (The PRECISE Study)
IRAS ID
299796
Contact name
Alan Cameron
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart rhythm that increases the risk of blood clots and strokes. Heart rhythm monitors are worn for 1-3 days in people after an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) to search for AF and anticoagulant drugs reduce the risk of a second stroke by two-thirds if AF is found. There are delays to these tests in many NHS settings since more tests are requested than cardiac departments can do and the vast majority of people tested (~96%) do not have AF. This means we are potentially doing a large number of unnecessary 3 day heart monitors in people who are very unlikely to have AF after stroke. In addition, new heart monitors that are worn for longer find more people with AF but are costly and are not needed for all people. A possible solution is to identify people who are unlikely to have AF and who do not need extensive testing. There are new techniques that may allow us to predict people who do not have AF without the need to do a 3 day heart monitor, including detailed analysis of standard heart traces (electrocardiograms / ECGs) and new blood tests. This approach could will reduce testing for many stroke survivors while allowing higher risk people to benefit from the newer, longer heart monitors.
We will use clinical data, advanced ECG analysis and a new blood test called MRproANP to identify people who are unlikely to have AF on detailed testing with a 30 day heart rhythm monitoring after an ischaemic stroke or TIA.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
21/WS/0064
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion