Evaluating anticoagulation strategies for atrial fibrillation using a smart watch
Official title: REACT-AF: Rhythm Evaluation for AntiCoagulaTion With Continuous Monitoring of Atrial Fibrillation
Run by Johns Hopkins University · NCT05836987 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if using a smart watch to monitor heart rhythm can help people with atrial fibrillation take blood thinners only when needed, instead of continuously, to see if it works better for their health.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 22 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 5350 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Johns Hopkins University Academic / other |
| Locations | 93 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 92 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 13, 2023 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | November 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05836987 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are men and women aged 22-85 with a documented history of non-permanent atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score indicating low to moderate stroke risk.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with a high risk of stroke or those who do not speak English may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The REACT-AF trial is a multicenter, randomized clinical trial that compares standard continuous Direct Oral Anticoagulation (DOAC) therapy with a time-delimited DOAC approach guided by an AF-sensing Smart Watch in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation. Participants aged 22-85 with a moderate stroke risk will be enrolled and monitored for AF episodes, with those in the experimental group receiving DOAC only after significant AF detection. The study aims to enroll 5350 participants across up to 100 sites, evaluating the effectiveness of this innovative monitoring approach over a period of up to 60 months.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a more tailored anticoagulation strategy that reduces the risk of stroke while minimizing unnecessary medication use.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using technology for monitoring atrial fibrillation, but this specific approach is novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. 22-85 years of age.
2. English speaking participants. Spanish-only speakers may be included in the future at select sites appropriately translated.
3. History of non-permanent atrial fibrillation.
4. CHA2DS2-VASC score of 1-5 for men and 2-5 for women without prior stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), The CHA2DS2-VASc score is a point-based system used to stratify the risk of stroke in Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients. The acronym CHA2DS2-VASc stands for congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled), vascular disease, age 65 to 74 and sex category (female). Congestive heart failure defined as: The presence of signs and symptoms of either right (elevated central venous pressure, hepatomegaly, dependent edema) or left ventricular failure (exertional dyspnea, cough, fatigue, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, cardiac enlargement, rales, gallop rhythm, pulmonary venous congestion) or both, confirmed by non-invasive or invasive measurements demonstrating objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction and/or ejection fraction \< 40%.
5. The participant is on a DOAC at the time of screening and willing to stay on DOAC for duration of study.
6. Willing and able to comply with the protocol, including:
* Possession of a smart watch-compatible smart phone (iPhone that supports the latest shipping iOS) with a cellular service plan
* Be willing to wear the smart watch for the suggested minimum of 14 hours a day
* Expected to be within cellular service range at least 80% of the time
7. Willing and able to discontinue DOAC
8. The participant is willing and able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Valvular or permanent atrial fibrillation.
2. Current treatment with warfarin and unwilling or unable to take a DOAC.
3. The participant is a woman who is pregnant or nursing.
4. The participant is being treated with chronic daily oral NSAIDs and is unwilling or unable to discontinue use for the study duration. Use of low-dose aspirin is permitted.
5. Existing cardiac rhythm device or indication for a permanent pacemaker, Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) device or planned insertable cardiac monitor. Insertable cardiac monitors are permitted unless they are being used to guide anticoagulation treatment.
6. Known or suspected symptomatic or asymptomatic atrial fibrillation lasting ≥ 1 hour/month over the last 3 months.
7. Any documented single AF episode lasting ≥ 1 hour on a cardiac monitor performed within 90 days prior to randomization.
8. Ablation for AF within the last 2 months.
9. Prior or anticipated left atrial appendage occlusion or ligation.
10. Mechanical prosthetic valve(s) or severe valve disease.
11. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
12. Participant needs DOAC for reasons other than preventing stroke or arterial embolism resulting from AF (i.e., preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or PE) or needs permanent OAC (i.e., congenital heart defects, prosthetic heart valve).
13. Participants deemed high risk for non-cardioembolic stroke (i.e., significant carotid artery disease defined as stenosis \> 75%) based on the investigator's discretion.
14. The participant is enrolled, has participated within the last 30 days, or is planning to participate in a concurrent drug and/or device study during the course of this clinical trial. Co-enrollment in concurrent trials is only allowed with documented pre-approval from the study manager; there is no concern that co-enrollment could confound the results of this trial.
15. The participant has a tattoo, birthmark, or surgical scar over the dorsal wrist area on the ipsilateral side that the AFSW may be worn.
16. The participant has a tremor on their ipsilateral side that the AFSW may be worn.
17. Any concomitant condition that, in the investigator's opinion, would not allow safe participation in the study (e.g., drug addiction, alcohol abuse).
18. Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to direct oral anticoagulants.
19. Documented prior stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) or transient ischemic attack.
20. Reversible causes of AF (e.g., cardiac surgery, pulmonary embolism, untreated hyperthyroidism). AF ablation does not constitute reversible AF.
21. \> 5% burden of premature atrial or ventricular depolarizations on pre-enrollment cardiac monitoring.
22. History of ECG-documented, sustained atrial flutter that has not been treated with ablation (participants with atrial flutter who have been ablated are eligible for enrollment)
23. Stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease.
24. Conditions associated with an increased risk of bleeding:
* Major surgery in the previous month
* Planned surgery or intervention in the next three months that would require cessation of anticoagulation \> 2 weeks.
* History of intracranial, intraocular, spinal, retroperitoneal, or atraumatic intra- articular bleeding
* Gastrointestinal hemorrhage within the past year unless the cause has been permanently eliminated (e.g., by surgery)
* Symptomatic or endoscopically documented gastroduodenal ulcer disease in the previous 30 days
* Hemorrhagic disorder or bleeding diathesis
* Need for anticoagulant treatment for disorders other than AF
* Uncontrolled hypertension (Systolic Blood Pressure \>180 mmHg and/or Diastolic Blood Pressure \>100 mmHg)
Where it's running
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Banner University
Phoenix, Arizona, United States Recruiting -
University of Southern California - Keck School of Medicine
Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting -
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA Health)
Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting -
UC Davis Health
Sacramento, California, United States Recruiting -
Scripps Health
San Diego, California, United States Recruiting -
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
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University of Colorado
Aurora, Colorado, United States Recruiting -
South Denver Cardiology Associates, P.C.
Littleton, Colorado, United States Recruiting -
BayCare Health Systems
Clearwater, Florida, United States Recruiting -
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville, Florida, United States Recruiting -
University of Miami - Leonard S. Miller SOM
Miami, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Baycare Health Systems Clearwater
Winter Haven, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, United States Recruiting -
Georgia Arrhythmia Consultants and Research Institute
Warner Robins, Georgia, United States Recruiting -
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Alexian Brothers Health System
Elk Grove Village, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
NorthShore University HealthSystem
Evanston, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Midwest Cardiovascular Institute
Naperville, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Ascension St. Vincent
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Recruiting -
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
Maine Medical Partners MaineHealth Cardiology
Scarborough, Maine, United States Recruiting -
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting -
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Mass General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
BMC - Brighton
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Burlington, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Henry Ford Health
Detroit, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Corewell Health (Former Spectrum Health)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health Grand Rapids/Mercy Health
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health Michigan Heart - Ann Arbor
Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Advanced Heart and Vascular Institute of Hunterdon
Flemington, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
Hackensack Meridian Health
Hackensack, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Piscataway, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
The Valley Hospital, Inc.
Ridgewood, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Recruiting -
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York, United States Recruiting
+43 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Rod Passman — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Shea Smith
- Email: sgluhm@stanford.edu
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.