Could a smartphone alert replace daily blood thinners for AF?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial. 2. Understand the risk and willing to discontinue oral anticoagulation (OAC). 3. Any gender aged 18 years or above. 4. Non-valvular paroxysmal atrial or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) with a current rhythm control strategy. Paroxysmal patients must have \< 3 documented or symptomatic episodes of \>1 hour duration in the previous 3 months. Persistent patients must have been in continuous sinus rhythm for at least 4 weeks prior to enrolment. 5. CHA2DS2-VASc score between 1 and 3 in men and between 2 and 4 in women. 6. Able to take direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) in guideline recommended doses. 7. Left atrial (LA) diameter on echocardiogram less than 5 cm (anteroposterior dimensions) or LA volume less than 48 ml/m2. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Any contraindication to OAC therapy with a DOAC in guideline recommended doses. 2. Mechanical heart valve prosthesis or moderate-to-severe mitral valve stenosis. 3. Permanent atrial fibrillation. 4. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 5. Documented previous thromboembolic event (stroke, transient ischaemic attack or systemic embolism). 6. Spontaneous echo contrast observed in any imaging modality. 7. History of intracardiac thrombi. 8. History of congenital heart disease. 9. Severe chronic renal disease (eGFR \<15 ml/m) or on renal replacement therapy. 10. Pregnant or planning pregnancy. 11. Indication for OAC other than atrial fibrillation. 12. Inability to comply with protocol. 13. Smartphone with operating system (OS) not compatible with MyCareLink Heart app. 14. Contraindication for implantable cardiac monitor. 15. Visual or physical impairment that prevents ability to read and acknowledge smartphone/watch notifications.