AUtomated Risk Assessment for Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation

AURAS-AF

“An automated software system to promote anticoagulation and reduce stroke risk”

Chief Investigator: Dr Tim Holt

Recruitment period: July – December 2013

Participants: 46 general practices using the EMIS Web clinical system; Within participant practices, outcome data are recorded in patients with diagnosed atrial fibrillation, who justify anticoagulation according to the criteria in NICE guidance TA249.

Study Institutions: The trial is led by the University of Oxford, with local support from the Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham

Study region: The whole of the Central England, South East England PCRNs; and the Trent and Leicestershire, Northampton & Rutland hubs.

Primary Outcome: Proportion of patients with diagnosed AF eligible for anticoagulation under recent guidelines who are prescribed therapy after 6 months

Patients with atrial fibrillation are at markedly increased risk of stroke. An effective treatment, oral anticoagulants, substantially reduces this risk; however – for a variety of reasons – use of this therapy is limited in eligible patients in English general practice.

AURAS-AF is a cluster-randomised controlled trial based in primary care. The intervention is an automated system of electronic reminders designed to promote appropriate, patient centred decision making over anticoagulation in people with atrial fibrillation. The software tool operates in general practice clinical systems, using routinely collected data. It produces audit lists of those potentially eligible for therapy, and on-screen reminders during consultations.  

For further information, please contact Dr Andrew Dalton, trial manager and principle investigator in WMS phone: 01865 617 867, email: andrew.dalton@phc.ox.ac.uk