Clinical trial Recruiting at 84 sites Phase 3 Interventional Ages 22 to 85

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

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Ages22 Years to 85 Years
SexAll
Enrollment5350 (estimated)
SponsorJohns Hopkins University
Academic / other
Locations93 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 92 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 13, 2023
Main results expectedJuly 31, 2029
Study endsJuly 31, 2029
Registry record updatedNovember 3, 2026
Trial IDNCT05836987 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

  • 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
  • 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

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.