What the trial was testing
The mSToPS enrolled 6,135 patients with atrial fibrillation. The study was sponsored by Scripps Translational Science Institute and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
3.9% vs. 0.9% — patch monitoring caught new AFib far more often.
JAMA · 2018 · NCT02506244
These findings — that new atrial fibrillation diagnoses at 4 months with patch monitoring vs. delayed start — were published in the JAMA and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 6,135 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with atrial fibrillation, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
The Zio patch and similar 2-week ECG monitors are FDA-cleared and widely available with a doctor's prescription. Apple Watches and similar consumer wearables can also flag AFib. Ask your primary care doctor or cardiologist about screening if you have AFib risk factors.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open atrial fibrillation trials
Real-world Experience of Catheter Ablation for the Treatment of Arrhythmias
The primary purpose of this Registry is to assess procedural safety and long-term effectiveness of catheter ablations in the treatment of subjects with PAF, PsAF, and VA. The Registry will utilize real world clinical data obtained from the use of commercially available CARTO™ technologies under the authority of a health care practitioner within a legitimate practitioner-subject relationship. Data from the registry will be used to assess clinical outcomes, including procedural efficiency, safety, and long-term effectiveness of catheter ablation with novel technologies for arrhythmia patients.
Amiodarone for the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation After Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy in Patients With Esophageal Cancer
This phase II trial studies how well amiodarone works in the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) after a minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) in patients with esophageal cancer. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heart rhythm, usually associated with a rapid rate, that is caused by abnormal electrical activity within the atria. AF is the most common complication after MIE for esophageal cancer. There has never been a study of AF after MIE that has used unbiased assignment of patients to receive preventative amiodarone or not. Further, there is no standard recommendation or guideline for preventative medications, such as amiodarone, to decrease the risk of AF in patients having MIE performed for cancer. In fact, most medical centers in the United States and around the world do not give preventative amiodarone after esophagectomy. Giving amiodarone after MIE surgery may be able to reduce the risk of AF for patients with esophageal cancer.