← Back to Search

Exercise for Atrial Fibrillation (ACUTE-AF Trial)

N/A
Recruiting
Led By Jennifer Reed, PhD
Research Sponsored by Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Self-reports being symptomatic in the past 4 weeks
Paroxysmal and Persistent AF
Must not have
Established diagnosis of severe mitral or aortic stenosis, or hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with significant obstruction
Unstable angina or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Awards & highlights

Summary

This trial will test whether exercise can help relieve symptoms in people with atrial fibrillation.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for men and women over 40 with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) who can exercise safely. Participants must have had AF symptoms recently, women should be post-menopausal, and all must understand English or French. Excluded are those already exercising regularly, with unstable heart conditions or severe diabetes, unable to use a smartphone or the internet, or with certain cardiac devices.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
The study tests how different types of exercise affect short-term changes in AF symptoms. It compares moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and no vigorous exercise over one week in a randomized crossover design where participants will try each condition.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
While specific side effects aren't listed for this type of physical activity intervention, general risks may include muscle soreness, fatigue, and potential exacerbation of AF symptoms during or after exercise.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
Select...
I have felt symptoms in the last 4 weeks.
Select...
I have irregular heartbeats that come and go or persist.
Select...
I am 40 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
Select...
I have been diagnosed with severe heart valve narrowing or thickened heart muscle causing obstruction.
Select...
I do not have uncontrolled diabetes or unstable chest pain.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and through study completion, an average of 1.5 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Feasibility of the pilot study - Adverse events
Feasibility of the pilot study - Participant fidelity
Feasibility of the pilot study - Recruitment and consent rate
+2 more
Secondary outcome measures
AF status measured daily with a KardiaMobile device
AF symptoms self-reported with a 7-day patient symptom questionnaire

Trial Design

3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Moderate Intensity Continuous Training (MICT)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will do 3 sessions of moderate-intensity continous exercise training over 7 days
Group II: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will do 3 sessions of high-intensity interval training over 7 days
Group III: RestActive Control1 Intervention
Participants will abstain from doing moderate- to high-intensity interval training over 7 days
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
2016
N/A
~270

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Ottawa Heart Institute Research CorporationLead Sponsor
189 Previous Clinical Trials
92,285 Total Patients Enrolled
23 Trials studying Atrial Fibrillation
6,631 Patients Enrolled for Atrial Fibrillation
Jennifer Reed, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorOttawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
4 Previous Clinical Trials
99 Total Patients Enrolled
~11 spots leftby Jul 2025
Unbiased ResultsWe believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your DataWe only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials OnlyAll of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.
Back to top