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NCT Number: NCT04371055

Intensive Rhythm Monitoring to Decrease Ischemic Stroke and Systemic Embolism - the Find-AF 2 Study

Patients who have suffered a stroke are having an increased risk of having recurrent stroke in the future. This risk of stroke is increased by atrial fibrillation, which often "comes and goes" (called paroxysmal) and hence escapes routine diagnostics. The hypothesis of Find-AF 2 is that enhanced (evaluation in a ECG core lab), prolonged (at least 7 days of rhythm monitoring annually) and intensified (continuous rhythm monitoring in high risk patients) not only finds atrial fibrillation more often, but that changes in therapeutic management (e. g. start of anticoagulation after detection of atrial fibrillation) results in a decrease of cardioembolism (which can be either recurrent stroke or systemic embolism).

To prove this hypothesis, patients will be randomised into two groups: the first group will receive the currently available standard care for patients with stroke. In the second group, cardiac rhythm monitoring adapted to the risk of the occurrence of atrial fibrillation is performed - either with a 7-day long-term ECG (at baseline, after 3 and 12 months and every 12 months thereafter) or with continuous monitoring using an implantable cardiac monitor. If atrial fibrillation is detected, this information will be given to the treating study physician. Any therapeutic decision is at the discretion of the treating physician, but should follow current guidelines.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Ischemic Stroke Arrhythmias, Cardiac Atrial Fibrillation Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Heart Diseases Nervous System Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Stroke Vascular Diseases

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

ISD München, München, Bavaria, Germany

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About this study

The Find AF 2 study will investigate whether intensified rhythm monitoring in patients with recent ischemic stroke leads to a decrease in recurrent thromboembolism (defined as recurrent ischemic stroke or systemic embolism). This will be achieved by identifying patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and subsequently switching secondary prevention therapy from antiplatelet therapy to oral anticoagulation. The intensity of heart rhythm monitoring will be risk-adjusted: Patients with an estimated low risk of atrial fibrillation receive a 7-day Holter ECG, which is repeated after 3 and 12 months and annually thereafter. Patients with a high risk of atrial fibrillation (defined by increased supraventricular ectopic activity) receive continuous ECG monitoring using an implanted loop recorder. The control arm is treated according to local standards, which includes cardiac rhythm monitoring for at least 24 hours according to current guidelines. Prior to randomization, a 24-hour Holter ECG is performed in both study arms, ensuring minimal ECG monitoring for patients in the control arm and allowing risk stratification in the intervention arm. Additional ECG monitoring using stroke telemetry and/or additional Holter ECGs is possible according to local standards, provided it does not exceed 7 days. Patients in both study arms will be followed up for at least 24 months.

It should be noted that this study only provides diagnostic information, the therapeutic decision is left to the treating physician.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Recent ischemic stroke (sudden focal neurologic deficit lasting > 24h consistent with the territory of a major cerebral artery) and/or a corresponding lesion on brain imaging within the last 30 days
  • Age ≥ 60 years
  • Patient without or with only slight disability (modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 2) before onset of stroke-related symptoms.
  • Written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Known history of atrial fibrillation/flutter or atrial fibrillation/flutter on admission ECG
  • Current indication or contraindication for oral anticoagulation at randomisation
  • Intracerebral bleeding in medical history
  • Patient scheduled for ECG-monitoring lasting > 7 days (Holter-ECG, implanted loop recorder, etc.)
  • Implanted pacemaker device or cardioverter/ defibrillator
  • Patient not willing to be treated with oral anticoagulants
  • Carotid artery stenosis ipsilateral to the current ischemic stroke needing operation or intervention.
  • History of carotid endarterectomy or percutaneous intervention of cerebral artery within the last 30 days.
  • Life expectancy <1 year for reasons other than stroke (e.g. metastatic cancer)
  • patients under legal supervision or guardianship
  • psychological/mental or other inabilities to supply required information (e.g. fill out the questionnaire due to dementia, language difficulties,...) or participate in the required tests
  • participation in other randomised interventional trials
  • suspected lack of compliance

Treatment and study plan

7-day Holter ECG

Other

7-day Holter ECG at baseline and after 3 and 12 months and then annually until the end of the study or the first (in patients with low risk of atrial fibrillation)

Implantable cardiac monitor

Other

Continuous rhythm monitoring using an implantable cardiac monitor

Standard of care

Other

Usual care according to current guidelines (in patients with low and high risk of atrial fibrillation)

Primary outcomes

  1. Primary efficacy endpoint: Time until recurrent ischemic stroke or systemic embolism

    Time frame: from the date of randomization until the date of first documented ischemic stroke or date of first systemic embolism, whichever comes first, assessed up to 60 months

    The trial will be event driven. The minimum follow-up in each patient is 24 months, but may be followed for up to 60 months.

  2. Primary safety endpoint: Time until the first haemorrhagic stroke

    Time frame: from the date of randomization until the date of first documented haemorrhagic stroke, assessed up to 60 months

    Time until the first haemorrhagic stroke

Secondary outcomes

  1. Time until the combination of stroke, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death

    Time frame: from the date of randomization until the date of first documented stroke, the date of myocardial infarction and the date of cardiovascular death, whichever comes first, assessed up to 60 months

    Time until the combination of stroke, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death

  2. Time until any stroke

    Time frame: from the date of randomization until the date of first documented any stroke, assessed up to 60 months

    Time until any stroke

  3. Time until new onset of AF

    Time frame: from the date of randomization until the date of first documented AF, assessed up to 60 months

    Time until new onset of Atrial Fibrillation

  4. Time until all cause mortality

    Time frame: from the date of randomization until the date of all cause mortality assessed up to 60 months

    Time until all cause mortality

  5. Time until myocardial infarction

    Time frame: from the date of randomization until the date of all myocardial infarction, assessed up to 60 months

    Time until myocardial infarction

  6. Changes in quality of life (QoL), measured by the stroke impact scale (SIS-16)

    Time frame: Mean change from baseline until study end assessed up to 60 months in both study arms

    Changes in quality of life (QoL), measured by the stroke impact scale (SIS-16). The SIS-16 ranges from 16 to 80, with higher scores showing better Quality of life.

  7. Changes in the EQ-5D five dimensional Quality of Life (QoL)

    Time frame: Mean change from baseline until study end assessed up to 60 months in both study arms

    Changes in the EQ-5D five dimensional Quality of Life (QoL)

  8. Changes in the overall QoL visual analog scale

    Time frame: Mean change from baseline until study end assessed up to 60 months in both study arms, ranging from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating better quality of life

    Changes in the overall QoL visual analog scale

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Leipzig

Other

Collaborators

  • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Registry information

Official study title

Intensive Heart Rhythm Monitoring to Decrease Ischemic Stroke and Systemic Embolism - the Find-AF 2 Study

Acronym: Find-AF2

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 1, 2020
Registry last updated
Jun 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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