QOL Improvement After Cardioversion of Persistent AF (QOL-CAFRCT) (NCT05136131)
Quality of Life Improvement After Cardioversion of Persistent AF - A Randomized Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of irregular heart rhythm due to electrical signal disturbances of the heart. It is a very common arrhythmia and the risk of developing AF increases with age and with other risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and underlying heart disease. The main complications of AF are heart failure and stroke. However, studies have shown that restoration of normal rhythm does not reduce these complications. Rather, these complications are mitigated by controlling the heart rate and using blood thinners to prevent stroke. Symptoms secondary to AF can occur due to the irregular heart rate and poor contraction in the atria, the top chambers of the heart. These symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and palpitations. Restoring sinus rhythm can sometimes alleviate these symptoms. Given that studies to date have not shown a difference in hard clinical endpoints between rate and rhythm control strategies, the decision to proceed with rhythm control depends on the patient symptom burden. Rhythm control strategies in patients with persistent AF include cardioversion back to sinus rhythm with long-term recurrence prevention via anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) or catheter ablation. However, many studies of these procedures omit a sham placebo control arm. No atrial fibrillation procedural intervention has been compared to a sham procedure. The cardioversion procedure can easily be compared to a "sham" alternative, as it is non-invasive with an expected response within days-to-weeks. Thus, a cardioversion versus "sham" cardioversion trial will allow us to truly assess the impact of a rhythm-control strategy on QOL. It is hypothesized that cardioversion of atrial fibrillation leads to significant improvement in quality of life (QOL) compared to sham cardioversion. Understanding the true QOL impact of sinus rhythm restoration in patients with persistent AF is of significant importance in guiding strategies for the management of AF. Hence, by evaluating what the true effect of cardioversion on QOL in this blinded study, we can better understand the role of medical management and AF ablation in our patients and assess resource allocation to these procedures.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: Southlake Health — Newmarket, Ontario
Age range: 18 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
- Electrical cardioversion (PROCEDURE)
- Sham electrical cardioversion (OTHER)
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)
- Southlake Health — Newmarket, Ontario
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute — Ottawa, Ontario
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (613) 696-7000
Email: tknight@ottawaheart.ca
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Atrial Fibrillation
- CHAMPION-AF Clinical Trial — Birmingham, Alabama
- Reversal of Atrial Substrate to Prevent Atrial — Calgary, Alberta
- Insertable Cardiac Monitor for Primary Atrial Fibrillation Detection in High-Risk Heart Failure Patients — Rochester, New York
- REView of ProcEdural FactoRs and Outcomes After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation With Active Esophageal COOLing: A Sub-Study of the REAL AF Registry — Chandler, Arizona
- Targeting Risk Interventions and Metformin for Atrial Fibrillation (TRIM-AF) — Cleveland, Ohio
- Liraglutide Effect in Atrial Fibrillation — Miami, Florida
Explore by condition: All Atrial Fibrillation clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.