Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study

Swiss-AF is a prospective observational, multicentric cohort study in Switzerland. Overall, 2600 patients with documented atrial fibrillation aged >65 years will be included and followed on a yearly basis.

Yearly clinical examinations include a detailed questionnaire on personal characteristics, a resting electrocardiogram, neurocognitive function tests and questionnaires on disability and quality of life. Blood sampling and brain magnetic resonance imaging are scheduled at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up.

The main study aims of this long term prospective study are to increase our knowledge on structural brain damage and its changes over time in patients with atrial fibrillation, to gain additional insights on the incidence and underlying mechanisms of cognitive decline in patients with atrial fibrillation and to evaluate the interrelationships of structural and functional brain damage in this population.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation Arrhythmias, Cardiac Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Cognition Disorders Cognitive Dysfunction Dementia Heart Diseases Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Stroke Vascular Diseases

Age range

45 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University Hospital

Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4031, Switzerland

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

atrial fibrillation documented within the last 24 months
age >=45 years

Exclusion criteria

acute illness
inability to provide informed consent
Only short episodes of reversible forms of atrial fibrillation

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Stroke or systemic embolism

Time frame: 2018 (after an average of 2.5 years of follow-up)

Secondary outcomes

Hospitalization for heart failure

Time frame: 2018 (after an average of 2.5 years of follow-up)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Other

Collaborators

Cardiocentro Ticino
Cardiovascular Research Institute (CRIB) Basel
Clinical Trial Unit, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
Medical Image Analysis Center (MIAC) Basel
Schiller AG Baar
Swiss National Science Foundation

Registry information

Official study title

Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study - SWISS AF

Acronym: SWISS-AF

Important dates

Study start: 2014
Primary completion: 2030
Study completion: 2030
First posted: Apr 7, 2014
Registry last updated: Jul 9, 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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Recruiting