Rationale and design of a digital trial using smartphones to detect subclinical atrial fibrillation in a population at risk: The eHealth-based bavarian alternative detection of Atrial Fibrillation (eBRAVE-AF) trial

Current guidelines recommend opportunistic screening for subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) taking advantage of e-health-based technologies. However, the efficacy of a fully scalable e-health-based strategy for AF detection in a head-to-head comparison with routine symptom-based screening is unknown. eBRAVE-AF is an investigator-initiated, digital, prospective, randomized, siteless, open-label, cross-over study to evaluate an e-health-based strategy for detection of AF in a real-world setting. 67,488 policyholders of a large German health insurance company (Versicherungskammer Bayern, Germany) selected by age ≥ 50 years and a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 1 (females ≥2) are invited to participate. Subjects with known AF or on treatment with oral anticoagulation are excluded. After obtaining electronic informed consent, at least 4,400 participants will be randomly assigned to an e-health-based screening strategy or routine symptom-based screening. The e-health-based strategy consists of repetitive one-minute photoplethysmographic (PPG) pulse wave assessments using a certified smartphone app (Preventicus Heartbeats, Preventicus, Jena, Germany), followed by a confirmatory 14-day ECG patch (CardioMem CM 100 XT, Getemed, Teltow, Germany) in case of abnormal findings. After 6 months, participants are crossed over to the other study arm. Primary endpoint is the incidence of newly diagnosed AF leading to oral anticoagulation indicated by an independent physician. Clinical follow-up will be at least 12 months. In both groups, follow-up is performed by 4-week app-based questionnaires, personal contact in case of abnormal findings, and matching with claim-based insurance data and medical reports. At time of writing enrollment is completed. First results are expected to be available in mid-2021.