Sleep apnea may scar your heart without you knowing

NCT ID NCT04814420

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Tulane University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study at Tulane University is testing whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause scarring (fibrosis) in the heart's upper chambers, even in people without atrial fibrillation. Researchers will use a special MRI with contrast dye to measure scarring in 60 adults with mild, moderate, or severe OSA. The goal is to see if OSA is an independent risk factor for heart scarring, which could lead to future treatments to prevent heart rhythm problems.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that sleep apnea directly causes heart scarring, pointing to the need for early treatment to prevent heart rhythm problems.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early pilot study (60 people) that only measures heart scarring on MRI. It cannot prove that sleep apnea causes scarring, and the results may not apply to everyone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

atrial fibrillation obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

Contacts and locations

Locations

East Jefferson General Hospital
RECRUITING

New Orleans, Louisiana, 70006, United States
Tulane Doctors - Speciality Care - Napoleon
RECRUITING

New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, United States
University Medical Center
RECRUITING

New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, United States

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