Follows adults with atrial fibrillation who decline a treatment trial
Follows adults with irregular heartbeat who chose not to join a trial.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Reversal of Atrial Substrate to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study
Key facts
- Where
- Calgary, Halifax, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Regina, and Toronto, CanadaSee the 7 sites
Where in Canada
- Foothills HospitalCalgary, CanadaTaking people
- QEIIHSCHalifax, CanadaTaking people
- London Health Sciences CentreLondon, CanadaTaking people
- Montreal Heart InstituteMontreal, CanadaTaking people
- University of Ottawa Heart InstituteOttawa, CanadaTaking people
- Regina General HospitalRegina, CanadaTaking people
- Sunnybrook HospitalToronto, 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
- Ratika Parkash
- Trial code
- NCT06249269
- Record updated
- 2 December 2025
- Original description
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major health problem, with a prevalence of 0.4-1% of the population. It results in high healthcare costs and significant morbidity, especially for patients with severe symptoms. The RASTA-AF randomized control trial (RCT) is designed to answer the following question: does vigorous treatment of AF with aggressive risk factor management plus catheter ablation reduce AF-related outcomes as compared to catheter ablation plus usual care in patients with symptomatic AF and risk factors that promote AF.Read full original descriptionShow less
Reversal of Atrial Substrate to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major health problem, with a prevalence of 0.4-1% of the population. It results in high healthcare costs and significant morbidity, especially for patients with severe symptoms. The RASTA-AF randomized control trial (RCT) is designed to answer the following question: does vigorous treatment of AF with aggressive risk factor management plus catheter ablation reduce AF-related outcomes as compared to catheter ablation plus usual care in patients with symptomatic AF and risk factors that promote AF.
This study is a multicenter, prospective cohort study that will enrol patients who decline participation in the RASTA-AF RCT but agree to be followed in a registry. The objective of RASTA-Cohort is to determine whether patients who decline participation in the RASTA-AF RCT have different clinical characteristics and quality of life than patients who accept participation in the study, and whether they suffer from worse AF-related outcomes than patients in the RCT.
Inclusion: symptomatic AF (CCS-SAF ≥2),; paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation despite rate control, desiring catheter ablation and either: i) BMI ≥ 30 or, ii) at least two of the following: BMI>27, BP>140/90 mmHg or history of hypertension, Diabetes, Heart failure (prior heart failure admission or LVEF<40%), Age ≥ 65 years, Prior stroke/TIA, Current smoker, Excessive alcohol use {For women: 10 or more drinks/week, more than 2 drinks a day (most days). For men: 15 or more drinks/week, more than 3 drinks a day (most days)}, and iii) declined or were not approached for participation in the main study. Eligible patients must have received catheter ablation for AF during the same timeline of the RASTA-AF Mian Study (November 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2025).
Exclusion: prior catheter ablation for AF; New York Heart Association Class IV heart failure; participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program within the last year,; other noncardiovascular medical condition making 1 year survival unlikely; permanent AF (AF lasting > 3 years),; less than 18 years of age; currently performing exercise training >150 minutes/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity,; unable to exercise,; unable to give informed consent,.