Smartphone heart rhythm checks in atrial fibrillation before a planned cardioversion
Tests a smartphone app for spotting a return to normal rhythm in atrial fibrillation.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Smartphone Based-PPG Assessment of REconversion in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Key facts
- Where
- Genk and Leuven, BelgiumSee the 2 sites
Where in Belgium
- Ziekenhuis Oost-LimburgGenk, BelgiumNo longer taking part
- University Hospitals LeuvenLeuven, BelgiumNo longer taking part
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
- Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg
- Trial code
- NCT07752940
- Record updated
- 7 August 2026
- Original description
This study investigates whether a smartphone application that measures heart rhythm using light, a technique known as photoplethysmography or PPG, can accurately detect when the cardiac arrhythmia atrial fibrillation (AF) spontaneously terminates and the heart returns to normal sinus rhythm. This is a prospective, multicentre randomised controlled study conducted at Hospital East Limburg and University Hospitals Leuven.Read full original descriptionShow less
Smartphone Based-PPG Assessment of REconversion in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: a Randomized Controlled Trial
This study investigates whether a smartphone application that measures heart rhythm using light, a technique known as photoplethysmography or PPG, can accurately detect when the cardiac arrhythmia atrial fibrillation (AF) spontaneously terminates and the heart returns to normal sinus rhythm. This is a prospective, multicentre randomised controlled study conducted at Hospital East Limburg and University Hospitals Leuven.
Continuous heart rhythm monitoring with conventional equipment is often not feasible in the home setting because of the high cost and complexity of the equipment. Smartphone-based PPG monitoring offers a practical and affordable alternative. The study will include 200 adult patients with known AF who are scheduled for elective electrical cardioversion. Patient will be randomised to either standard of care (no remote monitoring) or smartphone-based PPG monitoring. During the seven days preceding the procedure, participants in the intervention group will perform PPG and ECG measurements at predefined times using their smartphone and a chest strap.
The primary objective is to determine whether this intermittent, app-guided monitoring can detect spontaneous conversion to normal sinus rhythm before the planned cardioversion, thereby preventing unnecessary hospital admissions. In addition, we will evaluate the relationship between symptoms and cardiac rhythm, adherence to and user experience with self-monitoring, and the predictive value of the measured parameters for recurrence of AF or atrial flutter during one year of follow-up.
Inclusion: Provide signed and dated informed consent; Males or females aged ≥ 18 years; Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation based on ECG in medical history; Patient in atrial fibrillation when planned for electrical cardioversion as evidenced by an ECG; In possession of a smartphone; Being able and having the time to perform heart rhythm measurement using the FibriCheck application at home.
Exclusion: Cardiac implantable devices such as pacemakers, CRT's or ICD's; No access to a smartphone or unable to perform PPG measurements independently; Active follow-up in Fibricheck care pathways.