MedPath

Early Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation for Stroke Prevention Trial in Acute STROKE

Phase 3
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Acute Ischemic Stroke
Atrial Fibrillation
Interventions
Other: Usual care for atrial fibrillation
Other: Medical or interventional therapy for rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (antiarrhythmic drugs, ablation, electric cardio version)
Registration Number
NCT05293080
Lead Sponsor
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Brief Summary

This study will determine whether early, comprehensive, rhythm control therapy prevents adverse cardiovascular outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation compared to usual care.

Detailed Description

trial fibrillation is the single most frequent cause of ischemic stroke and associated with a high risk of recurrent stroke and cardiovascular complications. Usual care comprises oral anticoagulation and rate control. However, it is unclear, whether early rhythm control therapy reduces the risk of recurrent stroke and cardiovascular outcomes in stroke patients with atrial fibrillation. The Early treatment of Atrial fibrillation for Stroke prevention Trial in acute STROKE (EAST-STROKE) will be an investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized, open, blinded outcome assessment (PROBE) interventional multi-center trial to test whether early, comprehensive, rhythm control therapy prevents adverse cardiovascular outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation compared to usual care. Primary outcome is a composite of recurrent stroke, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization due to worsening of heart failure or acute coronary syndrome. Secondary outcomes will involve a comprehensive array of clinical and safety parameters, health and socio-economic outcomes including patient reported outcome measures. In an adaptive design, up to 1,746 patients will be enrolled to demonstrate the expected treatment effect with 90% power.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1746
Inclusion Criteria
  • Acute ischemic stroke in the previous four weeks, diagnosed by imaging (CT or MRI) or clinical diagnosis
  • Possibility to start the trial treatment within 4 weeks after stroke, and as soon as clinically justifiable
  • AF first detected ≤1 year prior to randomization
  • Informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • End-stage cancer or life-expectancy < 12 months due to other advanced co-morbid illness
  • Prior AF ablation or surgical therapy of AF
  • Patients not suitable for rhythm control of AF due to cardiac conditions

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Usual careUsual care for atrial fibrillationPatients with acute ischemic stroke and AF will receive usual care following the current ESC guidelines for AF treatment.
Early rhythm control therapyMedical or interventional therapy for rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (antiarrhythmic drugs, ablation, electric cardio version)Patients with acute ischemic stroke and AF will receive either catheter ablation (mainly pulmonary vein isolation), or adequate antiarrhythmic drug therapy at an early time point. The initial therapy will be selected by the local investigator. In case of continuation or recurrence of AF, both modalities may be combined.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time to first recurrent stroke, cardiovascular death, or hospitalization due to worsening of heart failure or due to acute coronary syndrome.Through study completion, an average of 42 months

The primary outcome measure is a composite of first recurrent stroke, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization due to worsening of heart failure or due to acute coronary syndrome as recorded by study investigators

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time to cardiovascular deathThrough study completion, an average of 42 months
All-cause hospitalizationsThrough study completion, an average of 42 months

All-cause hospitalizations as recorded by study investigators

Functional status assessed by the modified Rankin Scaleat 12 and 24 months

Modified Ranking Scale ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (death) with lower values indicating better status

Time to recurrent AFThrough study completion, an average of 42 months
Quality of life assessed by the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D)at 12 and 24 months

The EQ-5D index will be calculated with higher values indicating better health state

Cognitive function assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)at 12 and 24 months

The MoCA ranges for 0 to 30, with higher values indicating better cognitive function

Time to first recurrent strokeThrough study completion, an average of 42 months

Recurrent stroke as recorded by study investigators

Time to hospitalization due to acute coronary syndromeThrough study completion, an average of 42 months

Hospitalization due to acute coronary syndrome as recorded by study investigators

Cardiovascular hospitalizationThrough study completion, an average of 42 months

Cardiovascular hospitalization as recorded by study investigators

Time to first hospitalization due to worsening of heart failureThrough study completion, an average of 42 months

Hospitalization due to worsening of heart failure as recorded by study investigators

Time in sinus rhythmThrough study completion, an average of 42 months
Cost of therapyThrough study completion, an average of 42 months
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath