NCT07904507Not yet recruitingPhase 4
A Comparison of Beta-blockers and Calcium Channel Blockers in Atrial Fibrillation
BRACE-AFib: Beta-blocker Replacement and Calcium Channel Blockers Evaluation in Atrial Fibrillation
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 29 Oct 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Beta-blockers are generally prescribed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Their purpose is to slow the heart rate and thereby reduce the workload on the heart. However, beta-blockers can affect patients' quality of life, for example by reducing physical performance or causing fatigue in daily life. In this study, we aim to determine whether calcium channel blockers can improve the treatment of atrial fibrillation and have a positive impact on the quality of life of patients with atrial fibrillation compared with beta-blockers. We will also investigate how calcium channel blockers affect the physical exercise capacity. In addition, we will monitor potential side effects of both medications and explore whether there are any differences between women and men over the course of the study. Both study medications, the calcium channel blocker diltiazem and the beta-blocker bisoprolol, are approved by authorities and are recommended by the European Society of Cardiology for rate control in atrial fibrillation.
- Status (registry)
- Not yet recruiting
- Phase (registry)
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 266 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 22 Oct 2026
- Start date
- Nov 2026
- Primary completion date
- Oct 2029
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- Diseases
- Atrial fibrillation
- NCT number
- NCT07904507
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional · Phase 4
- Planned participants: 266
- From Nov 2026 to the primary completion date, Oct 2029
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Currently on a NDCC (Diltiazem or Verapamil)
- Concomitant rhythm-controlling medication (antiarrhythmic drugs Vaughan Williams classification I and III)
- Currently on Ivabradine, Digoxin, Clonidine, Pimozide, Dihydroergotamine, Nifedipine, Lomitapide
- Previous pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) or electric cardioversion within 90 days prior to study enrolment
- Drug or alcohol abuse
Other illness
- Severe valvular heart disease
- Uncontrolled hypertension defined as systolic BP \> 180 mmHg
- Severe bradycardia, defined as a resting heart rate \<40 bpm on ECG
- History of atrio-ventricular node ablation
- Established infiltrative myocardial disease, e.g. amyloidosis, constrictive pericarditis, myocarditis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Lab values
- Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \<40%
- End-stage renal disease, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<15 ml/min/1.73 m2
Other
- AV block Type II, AV block type III
- Implanted pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) with a right-ventricular pacing burden \>40%
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or women of childbearing potential who do not use a highly effective form of birth control
- Expected life expectancy \< 6months
- Inability to understand and sign study information and patient informed consent
- Both women and men will be enrolled, and sex-specific differences in treatment effects will be examined in a subgroup analysis. No vulnerable populations will be included. All participants are capable of judgment.
Who the study is looking for
- Documented AF
- Currently on a stable regimen of BB for at least three weeks
- Informed consent as documented by signature
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospital Basel Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Basel | Switzerland | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.