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Atrial FibrillationProAFNCT04125966

NT-proBNP Measurements to Rule-out Heart Failure Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Clinical Study

An observational study of Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure, run by University of Aarhus at 1 site in Denmark.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to investigate N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a biomarker to rule out heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation and heart failure often co-exist. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure
How many people
403 participants
Where
1 siteDenmark
Study dates
11 Nov 2019to 1 Mar 2021
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Study population: Patients presenting to the Emergency Department with atrial fibrillation.

Who may be able to join

  • Admission to hospital with atrial fibrillation
  • On-going atrial fibrillation documented on an ECG

Who cannot join

  • <18 years
  • Other arrhythmias than atrial fibrillation
  • Hemodynamically unstable
  • Terminal renal failure (in dialysis)
  • Pregnancy

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Bo Løfgren, Professor, MD, PhD, FESC, FAHA contact

+4578420000

bl@clin.au.dk

Denmark1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Randers Regional Hospital

    Randers, 8930

    Bo Løfgren, MD, PhD, +45 78420000, bl@clin.au.dk

    Bo Løfgren, MD, PhD, FESC, FAHA

    Recruiting

Other trials in Denmark

About this study

This study aims to investigate N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a biomarker to rule out heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation and heart failure often co-exist. Heart failure is important to identify, as part of the medical treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation can be fatal if the patient has concomitant heart failure. Performing an echocardiography is considered "gold standard" for assessing cardiac function but echocardiography may not always be readily available during acute hospitalization. The cardiac biomarker NT-proBNP can be used to rule out acute heart failure in patients with sinus rhythm. However, atrial fibrillation affects levels of NT-proBNP in the blood and it is therefore unknown, how the biomarker performs in atrial fibrillation patients.

Read the detailed description

Background and hypothesis:

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with a prevalence of approximately 2% in the general population and even higher among elderlies. Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased morbidity, mortality and risk of heart failure. Patients with atrial fibrillation are at risk of developing tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, heart failure of any other cause and atrial fibrillation often co-exist and these patients are at high risk of adverse outcomes and hospitalization. Therefore, early identification of heart failure among patients with atrial fibrillation is important in order to initiate the optimal treatment strategy. However, as recent onset atrial fibrillation and heart failure may present with similar symptoms, excluding heart failure in atrial fibrillation patients is a clinical challenge. The gold standard for evaluating heart failure is echocardiography. However, the access to echocardiographic evaluation may be limited in some hospitals receiving patients with atrial fibrillation. In situations where acute heart failure cannot be ruled-out, clinicians may choose to prescribe digoxin instead of e.g. beta blockers that are preferred for heart rate control. Digoxin is associated with a substantially higher mortality in large cohorts and is not recommended as a first line treatment. Methods other than echocardiography to rule-out heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation is therefore warranted.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is an established biomarker in identifying and determining long-term prognosis of heart failure in the general population. However, levels of NT-proBNP are known to be higher in atrial fibrillation patients, regardless of underlying structural heart disease.Therefore, it is not possible to rule-out heart failure in patients presenting to the Emergency Department with new-onset atrial fibrillation using existing algorithms for NT-proBNP and heart failure. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to prospectively measure NT-proBNP in atrial fibrillation patients to identify a NT-proBNP threshold making heart failure unlikely.

Perspectives: This study will evaluate if NT-proBNP may be feasible to rule-out heart failure in patients presenting with atrial fibrillation without the use of echocardiography. Early rule-out of heart failure will allow the use of more safe medication for rate control e.g. beta-blockers instead of digoxin.

Keywords
NT-proBNP, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure
Medical subject headings
Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Diagnostic performance of NT-proBNP for ruling out heart failure in atrial fibrillation patients

    The negative predictive value (NPV) of NT-proBNP for ruling out heart failure in atrial fibrillation patients

    Measured: 0-48 hours after admission to hospital

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Overall diagnostic performance of NT-proBNP in detecting heart failure among atrial fibrillation patients

    Sensitivity, specificity and the positive predictive value (PPV)

    Measured: 0-48 hours after admission to hospital

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Oct 2019
  2. Study start11 Nov 2019
  3. Primary completion1 Mar 2021 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Mar 2021 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
403 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04125966
Sponsor's protocol ID
69531
Acronym
ProAF
Status last verified
Oct 2020
First submitted
4 Oct 2019
Last updated
12 Oct 2020
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Zoni-Berisso M, Lercari F, Carazza T, Domenicucci S. Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: European perspective. Clin Epidemiol. 2014 Jun 16;6:213-20. doi: 10.2147/CLEP.S47385. eCollection 2014.

    PubMed 24966695
  • Wang TJ, Larson MG, Levy D, Vasan RS, Leip EP, Wolf PA, D'Agostino RB, Murabito JM, Kannel WB, Benjamin EJ. Temporal relations of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure and their joint influence on mortality: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 2003 Jun 17;107(23):2920-5. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000072767.89944.6E. Epub 2003 May 27.

    PubMed 12771006
  • Abualnaja S, Podder M, Hernandez AF, McMurray JJ, Starling RC, O'Connor CM, Califf RM, Armstrong PW, Ezekowitz JA. Acute Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation: Insights From the Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure (ASCEND-HF) Trial. J Am Heart Assoc. 2015 Aug 24;4(8):e002092. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.115.002092.

    PubMed 26304935
  • McManus DD, Saczynski JS, Lessard D, Kinno M, Pidikiti R, Esa N, Harrington J, Goldberg RJ. Recent trends in the incidence, treatment, and prognosis of patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation (the Worcester Heart Failure Study). Am J Cardiol. 2013 May 15;111(10):1460-5. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.01.298.

    PubMed 23465093
  • Benza RL, Tallaj JA, Felker GM, Zabel KM, Kao W, Bourge RC, Pearce D, Leimberger JD, Borzak S, O'connor CM, Gheorghiade M; OPTIME-CHF Investigators. The impact of arrhythmias in acute heart failure. J Card Fail. 2004 Aug;10(4):279-84. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2003.12.007.

    PubMed 15309692
  • Mountantonakis SE, Grau-Sepulveda MV, Bhatt DL, Hernandez AF, Peterson ED, Fonarow GC. Presence of atrial fibrillation is independently associated with adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure: an analysis of get with the guidelines-heart failure. Circ Heart Fail. 2012 Mar 1;5(2):191-201. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.111.965681. Epub 2012 Feb 23.

    PubMed 22361078
  • Ponikowski P, Voors AA, Anker SD, Bueno H, Cleland JG, Coats AJ, Falk V, Gonzalez-Juanatey JR, Harjola VP, Jankowska EA, Jessup M, Linde C, Nihoyannopoulos P, Parissis JT, Pieske B, Riley JP, Rosano GM, Ruilope LM, Ruschitzka F, Rutten FH, van der Meer P; Authors/Task Force Members; Document Reviewers. 2016 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure: The Task Force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Developed with the special contribution of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. Eur J Heart Fail. 2016 Aug;18(8):891-975. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.592. Epub 2016 May 20. No abstract available.

    PubMed 27207191
  • Bavishi C, Khan AR, Ather S. Digoxin in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure: A meta-analysis. Int J Cardiol. 2015 Jun 1;188:99-101. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2015.04.031. Epub 2015 Apr 6. No abstract available.

    PubMed 25900519
  • Turakhia MP, Santangeli P, Winkelmayer WC, Xu X, Ullal AJ, Than CT, Schmitt S, Holmes TH, Frayne SM, Phibbs CS, Yang F, Hoang DD, Ho PM, Heidenreich PA. Increased mortality associated with digoxin in contemporary patients with atrial fibrillation: findings from the TREAT-AF study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014 Aug 19;64(7):660-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2014.03.060.

    PubMed 25125296
  • Chao TF, Liu CJ, Chen SJ, Wang KL, Lin YJ, Chang SL, Lo LW, Hu YF, Tuan TC, Chen TJ, Chiang CE, Chen SA. Does digoxin increase the risk of ischemic stroke and mortality in atrial fibrillation? A nationwide population-based cohort study. Can J Cardiol. 2014 Oct;30(10):1190-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2014.05.009. Epub 2014 May 14.

    PubMed 25262860
  • Hildebrandt P, Collinson PO, Doughty RN, Fuat A, Gaze DC, Gustafsson F, Januzzi J, Rosenberg J, Senior R, Richards M. Age-dependent values of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide are superior to a single cut-point for ruling out suspected systolic dysfunction in primary care. Eur Heart J. 2010 Aug;31(15):1881-9. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehq163. Epub 2010 Jun 2.

    PubMed 20519241
  • Maisel AS, Krishnaswamy P, Nowak RM, McCord J, Hollander JE, Duc P, Omland T, Storrow AB, Abraham WT, Wu AH, Clopton P, Steg PG, Westheim A, Knudsen CW, Perez A, Kazanegra R, Herrmann HC, McCullough PA; Breathing Not Properly Multinational Study Investigators. Rapid measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide in the emergency diagnosis of heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2002 Jul 18;347(3):161-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa020233.

    PubMed 12124404
  • Januzzi JL Jr, Chen-Tournoux AA, Christenson RH, Doros G, Hollander JE, Levy PD, Nagurney JT, Nowak RM, Pang PS, Patel D, Peacock WF, Rivers EJ, Walters EL, Gaggin HK; ICON-RELOADED Investigators. N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in the Emergency Department: The ICON-RELOADED Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018 Mar 20;71(11):1191-1200. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.01.021.

    PubMed 29544601
  • Januzzi JL Jr, Camargo CA, Anwaruddin S, Baggish AL, Chen AA, Krauser DG, Tung R, Cameron R, Nagurney JT, Chae CU, Lloyd-Jones DM, Brown DF, Foran-Melanson S, Sluss PM, Lee-Lewandrowski E, Lewandrowski KB. The N-terminal Pro-BNP investigation of dyspnea in the emergency department (PRIDE) study. Am J Cardiol. 2005 Apr 15;95(8):948-54. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2004.12.032.

    PubMed 15820160
  • Jin M, Wei S, Gao R, Wang K, Xu X, Yao W, Zhang H, Zhou Y, Xu D, Zhou F, Li X. Predictors of Long-Term Mortality in Patients With Acute Heart Failure. Int Heart J. 2017 May 31;58(3):409-415. doi: 10.1536/ihj.16-219. Epub 2017 May 12.

    PubMed 28496020

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure, run by University of Aarhus at 1 site in Denmark.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Oct 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Denmark. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Bo Løfgren, Professor, MD, PhD, FESC, FAHA (+4578420000, bl@clin.au.dk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Diagnostic performance of NT-proBNP for ruling out heart failure in atrial fibrillation patients (time frame: 0-48 hours after admission to hospital). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04125966, which also lists 18 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Oct 2020.

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