What is Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm problem worldwide. It causes the heart to beat in an irregular and uncoordinated way instead of a steady rhythm.
What is New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation (NOAF)?
New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) happens when a person develops AF for the first time. It often occurs in people who are seriously unwell, particularly those with infections, sepsis, or those in intensive care.
Why Does NOAF Matter?
NOAF can cause serious short-term and long-term problems.
- Short-term risks: Low blood pressure, blood clots, longer hospital stays, stroke, and even death.
- Long-term risks: Higher chance of developing permanent AF, stroke, heart failure, or needing to be readmitted to the hospital.
The Problem with NOAF Research
Current guidelines focus on people with permanent AF, not NOAF. There is no clear agreement on the best way to treat NOAF or prevent complications like stroke.
One major issue is that different research studies define NOAF in different ways and measure different outcomes. This makes it hard to compare results and find the best treatments.
Our Research Goals
We want to improve research on NOAF by:
- Agreeing on a clear definition of NOAF.
- Creating a core outcome set – a standard list of important outcomes that all studies should measure.
- Deciding how to measure these outcomes in a way that works for both doctors and patients.
- Ensuring patient priorities are included so research focuses on what matters most to people with NOAF.
How We Will Do This Research
We will conduct our research in four stages:
- Review past research – We will look at existing studies to see how they define NOAF, what outcomes they measure, and whether they consider patient priorities.
- Gather expert opinions – We will ask patients, carers, doctors, and researchers to rank outcomes based on their importance. They can also suggest new outcomes. This will be done online using emails and an e-Delphi survey tool.
- Hold workshops – We will run online and face-to-face discussions to agree on a clear definition of NOAF and the most important outcomes.
- Review measurement methods – We will examine how different outcomes are currently measured and identify the best methods that are practical and acceptable to both doctors and patients.
Why This Matters
By creating a standard set of outcomes, future NOAF studies will be easier to compare, helping researchers find the best treatments. Most importantly, our work will ensure that research focuses on what truly matters to patients.