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EfFect of Ablation of Persistent AtriaL Fibrillation on COgNitive Function in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment

EfFect of Ablation of Persistent AtriaL Fibrillation on COgNitive Function in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment : - The FALCON Study-

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05790707
Enrollment
120
Registered
2023-03-30
Start date
2023-04-21
Completion date
2027-07-01
Last updated
2026-01-23

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

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation on cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Participants will be randomized into antiarrhythmic drugs alone or atrial fibrillation ablation + antiarrhythmic drugs.

Interventions

PROCEDUREAtrial fibrillation ablation + antiarrhythmic drugs

Atrial fibrillation ablation will be performed with endovascular catheters and will be done either with radiofrequency, cryoballoon or pulsed field ablation. Amiodarone, flecainide, sotalol, propafenone are the anti arrhythmic drugs allowed.

Amiodarone, flecainide, sotalol, propafenone are the anti arrhythmic drugs allowed.

Sponsors

Poitiers University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients aged 60 to 80 years * Persistent atrial fibrillation * Patients with an indication for cardiac rhythm control. * Montreal Cognitive Assessment score between 18 and 25 points corresponding to mild cognitive impairment * Free subject, not under temporary or permanent guardianship and not subject to subordination * Subject understanding and accepting the constraints of the study * Patient covered by French national health insurance or benefiting from it through a third party * Subject has given written consent to the study after having received clear and complete information

Exclusion criteria

* Impossibility to perform the neuropsychological evaluation (communication problems such as hearing loss or aphasia, language barrier) * History of clinical stroke * Presence of a bruit at carotid auscultation or history of severe carotid stenosis * History or suspicion of neurodegenerative disease (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis...), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe depression or amyloidosis * Patient with history of previous atrial fibrillation ablation * Patient undergoing flutter ablation or atrial tachycardia ablation (not atrial fibrillation ablation) * Contraindication to atrial fibrillation ablation (intracardiac thrombus, severe pulmonary hypertension, mechanical mitral valve prosthesis or contraindication to anticoagulation,…) * Contraindication to antiarrhythmic drugs, or to implantable cardiac monitor * Patient with very advanced persistent atrial fibrillation, i.e., for more than 3 years or with a left atrial diameter \>60 mm in parasternal long axis section or a left atrial volume \> 48ml/m2 in echocardiography * Subject with a life expectancy of less than 24 months at study enrolment * Inability to consent * Persons benefiting from a reinforced protection, namely minors, persons deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision, adults under legal protection, and finally patients in emergency situations * Pregnant or breastfeeding women, women at age to procreate and not using effective contraception (hormonal/barrier: oral, parenteral, percutaneous implantable, intrauterine device, or surgical: tubal ligation, hysterectomy, total ovariectomy)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Montreal Cognitive Assessmentquestionnaire score evolution 6 monthsbaseline (randomization) and 6 months after randomizationTo evaluate the effect of "atrial fibrillation ablation + antiarrhythmic drugs" on cognitive function as assessed by the change at the Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire score between randomization (M0) and 6 months after randomization (M6), compared with "antiarrhythmic drugs alone" in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation associated with mild cognitive impairment. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire score ranges from 0 to 30. A higher score indicates better cognitive performance.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Baseline characteristics associated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment score improvementbaseline (randomization) and 6 months after randomizationTo define the baseline characteristics associated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment improvement between randomization (M0) and 6 months after randomization (M6) in patients with mild cognitive impairment and persistent atrial fibrillation undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire score ranges from 0 to 30. A higher score indicates better cognitive performance.
Changes in different types of cognitive functionsbaseline (randomization) and 6 months after randomizationTo assess changes in different cognitive functions measured by a comprehensive neurocognitive assessment between randomization (M0) and 6 months after randomization (M6). The assessed tests are : Free recall/indexed recall 16, WAIS IV "digit memory" subtest, Rapid Frontal Efficiency Battery (BREF) score, Trail Making Test (TMT- GREFEX version), Verbal fluency (GREFEX version) categorical (animals) and literal (letter P), Oral naming of the BETL (Battery for the Evaluation of Language Disorders), STROOP test (GREFEX version), Rey figure, Processing speed index from the WAIS IV.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire score evolution 12 monthsbaseline (randomization) and 12 months after randomizationTo evaluate the effect of "atrial fibrillation ablation + antiarrhythmic drugs" on cognitive function as assessed by the change at the Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire score between randomization (M0) and 12 months after randomization (M12), compared with "antiarrhythmic drugs alone". The Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire score ranges from 0 to 30. A higher score indicates better cognitive performance.
Association between atrial fibrillation burden and cognitive functionbaseline (randomization) and 12 months after randomizationTo evaluate the association between atrial fibrillation burden and cognitive function as assessed by the change at the Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire score between randomization (M0) and 12 months after randomization (M12). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire score ranges from 0 to 30. A higher score indicates better cognitive performance.
Quality of life Short Form Survey (SF-12)baseline (randomization), 6 and 12 months after randomizationTo evaluate the effect of "atrial fibrillation ablation + antiarrhythmic drugs" on quality of life assessed by the change at the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) between randomization (M0), 6 and 12 months after randomization (M6 and M12), compared with "antiarrhythmic drugs alone". Score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better physical and mental health functioning.
Quality of life QOL-ADbaseline (randomization), 6 and 12 months after randomizationTo evaluate the effect of "atrial fibrillation ablation + antiarrhythmic drugs" on quality of life assessed by the change at the Quality of life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) questionnaire scores between randomization (M0), 6 and 12 months after randomization (M6 and M12), compared with "antiarrhythmic drugs alone". Score ranges from 13 to 52. The higher the score, the better quality of life the participant has.

Countries

France

Contacts

CONTACTRodrigue Garcia
rodrigue.garcia@chu-poitiers.fr549443729

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026