Blood Thinner Study for Stroke Prevention in Brief Atrial Fibrillation Linked to Stress
Tests a blood thinner in adults over 55 with atrial fibrillation triggered by stress.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention In Patients With Recent Episodes of Atrial Fibrillation Occurring Transiently With Stress
Key facts
- Where
- Calgary, Cambridge, Cranbrook, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Medicine Hat, Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Québec, Regina, Saskatoon, Sherbrooke, St. Catharines, Surrey, Sydney, Vancouver, Vaughan, and Winnipeg, CanadaSee the 24 sites
- Phase
- Phase 4
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for people aged 55 or older who had a brief episode of atrial fibrillation during a stress such as surgery or a serious illness, and who have extra stroke risk.
- Age
- 55 years or older, with extra risk criteria that depend on the age group (55-64, 65-74, 75 or older).
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- At least 1 episode of atrial fibrillation during non-heart surgery or an acute illness needing hospital admission in the past 35 days. Heart rhythm must be normal (sinus rhythm) at randomization.
- Earlier treatment
- People who need long-term blood thinners or long-term dual antiplatelet treatment cannot join. People who had heart surgery in the past 35 days cannot join.
- Biomarker or test result
- For ages 55-74, one way to qualify is an elevated troponin level after surgery. CHA2DS2VASc score of 3 or more (ages 55-64) or 2 or more (ages 65-74) is another way.
Main reasons for not taking part
- A heart problem was the main reason for hospital admission
- Known long-term atrial fibrillation before the surgery
- Cannot take oral blood thinners, or has a bleeding disorder or past bleeding in the brain, eye or spine
- Severe kidney problems (CrCl <20 ml/min) or severe liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh Class C)
- Acute stroke in the past 14 days
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Where in Canada
- Foothills HospitalCalgary, CanadaTaking people
- Cambridge Cardiac Care CentreCambridge, CanadaNot yet recruiting
- East Kootenay Regional HospitalCranbrook, CanadaNot yet recruiting
- University of Alberta HospitalEdmonton, CanadaTaking people
- Halifax InfirmaryHalifax, CanadaTaking people
- Hamilton General HospitalHamilton, CanadaTaking people
- Juravinski HospitalHamilton, CanadaTaking people
- St. Joseph's Healthcare HamiltonHamilton, CanadaTaking people
- Kingston General HospitalKingston, CanadaTaking people
- London Health Sciences Centre, University HospitalLondon, CanadaTaking people
- Medicine Hat Regional HospitalMedicine Hat, CanadaTaking people
- Dr. Georges L. Dumont University Hospital CentreMoncton, CanadaNot yet recruiting
- Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de MontréalMontreal, CanadaTaking people
- The Ottawa Hospital - General CampusOttawa, CanadaTaking people
- CHU de Quebec-Universite LavalQuébec, CanadaNot yet recruiting
- Regina General HospitalRegina, CanadaTaking people
- Royal University HospitalSaskatoon, CanadaTaking people
- Hôpital Fleurimont du Centre hospitalier universitaire de SherbrookeSherbrooke, CanadaTaking people
- Niagara Health System - St. Catharine's SiteSt. Catharines, CanadaTaking people
- Fraser Health AuthoritySurrey, CanadaTaking people
- Cape Breton UniversitySydney, CanadaTaking people
- Vancouver General HospitalVancouver, CanadaTaking people
- Cortelluci Vaughan HospitalVaughan, CanadaTaking people
- Health Sciences Centre WinnipegWinnipeg, CanadaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Population Health Research Institute
- Trial code
- NCT03968393EU 2023-509142-35-00
- Record updated
- 12 January 2026
- Original description
Multinational, investigator-initiated study of oral anticoagulation versus no anticoagulation for the prevention of stroke and other adverse cardiovascular events in patients with transient atrial fibrillation occurring transiently with stress and additional stroke risk factors.Read full original descriptionShow less
Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention In Patients With Recent Episodes of Atrial Fibrillation Occurring Transiently With Stress - The ASPIRE-AF Trial
Multinational, investigator-initiated study of oral anticoagulation versus no anticoagulation for the prevention of stroke and other adverse cardiovascular events in patients with transient atrial fibrillation occurring transiently with stress and additional stroke risk factors.
Inclusion: have ≥1 episode of clinically important AFOTS during any of the following conditions:; noncardiac surgery in the past 35 days, with at least an overnight hospital admission aftersurgery; noncardiac day surgery resulting in a large enough physiological insult to be able to cause AFOTS, as judged by the local investigator; or; acute medical illness requiring hospital admission in the past 35 days and resulting in a large enough physiological insult to be able to cause AFOTS, as judged by the local investigator; sinus rhythm at the time of randomization; any of the following high-risk criteria:; age 55-64 years, and having either known cardiovascular disease, recent major vascular surgery, a CHA2DS2VASc score ≥3, or an elevated postoperative troponin level; age 65-74 years, and having either known cardiovascular disease, recent major vascular surgery, a CHA2DS2VASc score ≥2, or an elevated postoperative troponin level; OR; age ≥75 years; provide written informed consent.
Exclusion: history of documented chronic AF prior to noncardiac surgery; expected to be non-compliant with follow-up and/or study medications; known life expectancy less than 1 year due to concomitant disease; previously enrolled in the trial; any cardiac diagnosis as the primary reason for hospital admission; severe renal insufficiency (CrCl <20 ml/min); acute stroke in the past 14 days; underwent cardiac surgery in the past 35 days; history of nontraumatic intracranial, intraocular, or spinal bleeding; hemorrhagic disorder or bleeding diathesis; need for long-term systemic anticoagulation; ongoing need for long-term dual antiplatelet treatment; contraindication to oral anticoagulation; severe liver cirrhosis (i.e., Child-Pugh Class C); women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or of childbearing potential who are not taking effective contraception; OR.