Evaluating Smartwatch Monitoring to Detect Atrial Fibrillation After Major Thoracic Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Postoperative atrial fibrillation POAF affects about 20% of patients after thoracic surgery and can lead to serious complications like heart failure, stroke, and increased risk of death. Researchers are studying how well smartwatches with single-lead ECG and detection algorithms can identify POAF compared to standard care. The goal is to find early diagnosis methods to improve patient outcomes after surgery. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups the smartwatch group, where they use a smartwatch for rhythm monitoring, or the control group, which receives standard care without smartwatch monitoring. If POAF episodes are detected, they are confirmed with a 12-lead ECG. The study evaluates the incidence of POAF at day 7 and other outcomes such as cardiovascular prognosis and AF management up to 6 months. During the study, participants will be monitored for heart rhythm using the smartwatch or standard methods. Researchers will assess how often POAF occurs by day 7, the rate of asymptomatic POAF, and cardiovascular health at day 3 and 6 months. They will also evaluate the feasibility of smartwatch monitoring and track recurrence and management of AF at 3 and 6 months. The study starts in June 2025 and continues until December 2027.

Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation in Postoperative Thoracic Surgery Using a Smartwatch