Identifying the differences in the blood chemistry, electrical and structural properties of the heart between participants with and without prior strokes.

Identifying differences in blood biochemistry, cardiac electrophysiological and structural properties between stroke patients and an age matched control group without stroke

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12617000771358

Enrollment

150

Registered

2017-05-26

Start date

2018-01-23

Completion date

2020-10-30

Last updated

2025-09-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a fast irregular heart rate that can cause abnormalities in the structure and electrical function of the heart and can cause strokes through formation of blood clots in the heart which move to the brain. A stroke is when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. Although AF is known to increase the risk of stroke, there is new evidence that suggests that other factors may be independently present that cause formation of blood clots in the heart leading to a stroke. The primary purpose of this study is to identify changes in structure of the heart, the electrical properties within the heart and in the blood chemistry that might increase a person’s risk for having a stroke.

Interventions

Exposures of interest are blood biochemistry and the cardiac electrical and structural changes in patients with stroke and comparing them to an age matched control patient cohort without a history of stroke. All measurements will be single point measurements, with no long term component. Exposures: 1) Blood biochemistry: Peripheral and intra cardiac blood samples 2) Cardiac structure: Transthoracic and Transoesophageal echocardiography 3) Cardiac electrical properties: Assessed using 12 lead EC

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

55 Years to 80 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

Stroke group: Admission diagnosis of ischaemic stroke or TIA, older than 55 years of age Control group: Age matched patients without prior history of stroke or TIA

Exclusion criteria

1. Unable to provide informed consent 2. Pregnancy 3. Chronic kidney disease; stage 4 or greater 4. Patients with significant ventricular arrhythmias on extended monitoring

Outcome results