Could two weeks of heart monitoring prevent a second stroke?
NCT ID NCT05134454
First seen Aug 05, 2026 · Last updated Aug 06, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study asks whether wearing a small heart monitor for two weeks at a time, twice, can better detect hidden irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrillation) in older adults who recently had a stroke or mini-stroke, compared to the usual 1-2 day monitoring. Atrial fibrillation is a major risk factor for stroke, and finding it could lead to blood thinners that lower the chance of another stroke. The trial enrolls 3,300 patients aged 70 and older and tracks their health over time to see if extended monitoring reduces strokes, deaths, or serious bleeding.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Extended ECG monitoring using a wearable patch (Philips ePatch) worn for 14 days, repeated twice, compared to standard 1-2 day ECG monitoring.
- What this could lead to
- If extended monitoring detects more atrial fibrillation, it could enable earlier anticoagulation treatment, potentially reducing recurrent strokes and deaths in elderly stroke survivors.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is large but still experimental; extended monitoring may not significantly improve outcomes, and the added detection could lead to unnecessary treatments or bleeding risks from anticoagulants.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Karolinska Institutet Danderyds University Hospital
Stockholm, Stockholm County, 18288, Sweden
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