OMRON & UCSF Launch Trial: Home BP Monitors May Detect Hidden AFib

OMRON Healthcare Co., Ltd. has launched a groundbreaking randomized controlled trial in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to explore early detection of atrial fibrillation (AFib) through home blood pressure monitoring. The study, called the OMRON-AF Trial, will enroll approximately 1,900 hypertension patients aged 60 and older who have risk factors for AFib. These participants will be recruited from users of the OMRON Connect mobile app and randomized into two groups: one using a home blood pressure monitor equipped with OMRON's proprietary Intellisense AFib algorithm, and the other using a standard monitor without AFib detection capabilities. This innovative approach aims to integrate AFib screening into existing hypertension care pathways, potentially identifying the condition before serious complications like stroke or heart failure occur.

The study represents a significant advancement in preventive cardiology because AFib is a common cardiac arrhythmia closely linked to aging and high blood pressure, and up to 40% of individuals with the condition experience no noticeable symptoms. When potential signs of AFib are detected during routine home monitoring, participants will receive a wearable patch electrocardiogram (ECG) device for confirmatory diagnosis. The research will also assess heart failure risk via NT-proBNP biomarker testing for those diagnosed with AFib, while analyzing AF burden against episode frequency recorded during home monitoring. This comprehensive approach could establish a new model for ongoing AFib management after diagnosis, leveraging technologies that patients already use regularly.

Ayumu Okada, President and CEO of OMRON Healthcare, emphasized that this collaboration with UCSF represents an important step toward integrating atrial fibrillation screening into routine hypertension management, advancing the company's vision of 'Going for ZERO' cardiovascular events. Professor Gregory Marcus of UCSF highlighted that unlike many other AFib screening studies, this employs a rigorous randomized controlled trial design to test whether home blood pressure monitoring might effectively identify occult atrial fibrillation. The study utilizes remote recruitment and engagement through mobile app and smartphone-based technologies, representing an efficient approach that could generate evidence implementable in real-world clinical practice. For more information on this study, please visit the OMRON Healthcare website where they explain why checking for AFib matters for those over 60 with high blood pressure.