Acute Cognitive Changes During Atrial Fibrillation Episodes (AFCOG)

Objectives:

* First, to determine if patients with a history of AF have acute measurable changes in cognitive functioning while in an episode of AF.
* Second, to collect basic insight into what specific physiologic (blood pressure, pulse oximetry, heart rate, temperature) and pharmacologic (antiarrhythmic medications, rate control medications, anticoagulants, antiplatelet medications, etc.) factors minimize the neurological impact on patients while they are in AF.

It is hypothesized that when using a tablet-based cognitive testing software - Cambridge Cognition (specifically to assess executive function, learning and working memory: Rapid Visual Information Processing test, Spatial Working Memory/Spatial Span Task tests, One touch Stockings of Cambridge test, Cambridge Gambling Task, Multitasking Test/Intra-Extra Dimensional Set shift tests) - a significant difference will be noted between how the patients perform while in atrial fibrillation compared to the patients' performance while in normal sinus rhythm.

Inclusion Criteria

* Subjects who are patients at Colorado Springs Cardiology (CSC) or Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.
* Patients who are between 35-80 years of age.
* Subjects actively in an episode of paroxysmal, or persistent AF (who are expected to receive treatment and converted back to sinus rhythm (through antiarrhythmic drug therapy, direct current cardioversion, ablation or Maze/Minimally invasive Maze procedure).
* Subjects with a history of AF who have had \>3 documented episodes of AF over the preceding 12 months and meet all other inclusion/exclusion criteria can pre-enroll. The cognition tests will be administered during the patient's next captured AF episode.

Method of Recruitment

* Study participants will be recruited after it is determined that they are acutely in an episode of AF by a standard of care 12-lead EKG (or KardiaApp), during an outpatient clinical visit (established patient clinical visits, consultations, or new patient visits) at CSC, or when being consulted on or rounded on at Penrose Hospital or St. Francis Medical Center.
* A baseline 12 lead EKG (or KardiaApp) at recruitment will establish or confirm the presence of AF
* The research personnel will review the consent for the study with the patient while they are in the CSC office or the patient's room if they are recruited during their time admitted to Penrose-St. Francis Health Services. After the patient has signed the consent, patient eligibility will be confirmed and the study process will continue.

Patients may also be phone consented and complete the testing at home via web-based testing.

• Patients of CSC with a known history of AF with be contacted with information on the study. If the patient is interested and have had \>3 documented episodes of AF over the preceding 12 months they will be invited to pre-enroll in the study with the intention of having the subject already enrolled in the study before their next episode of AF.

Procedure:

The study involves an observational study design. Before the study begins:

• All nursing and study personnel participating in the study will undergo routine in-service notification/training about the study.

After the study is open:

* While a potential participant at CSC, Penrose Hospital, or St. Francis Medical Center, patients who are determined to be in an active episode of AF by 12 Lead EKG, will be informed about the research study by research personnel and if they are interested in participating, the research personnel will proceed with the informed consent. Alternatively, patients of CSC with a known history of AF will be sent information on the study. If they are interested and have had \> 3 documented episodes of AF over the preceding 12 months they will be invited to pre-enroll in the study (even when in normal rhythm) with the intention of having the subject already enrolled in the study before their next episode of AF.
* After receiving informed consent and confirming eligibility, patients will have vital signs performed according to standard of care and a history taken. The subject will then be asked to answer the Cambridge Cognition test while in AF. This can happen on the same date the informed consent is performed.
* If a patient decides to drop out of the study after signing the consent form routine clinical care will be followed.
* The Cambridge Cognition test will be performed again at any point after 5 days from the termination of the AF episode after a 12 lead EKG confirms that they are no longer in AF (including after spontaneous conversion, pharmacologic cardioversion, electrical cardioversion, ablation or Maze procedure).
* The results of each subject's cognitive testing while in an acute episode of AF (experimental) will be compared to the results of the same subject's results in normal rhythm (control).
* Should a patient's AF episode not resolve within 6 months' time of the documented AF episode on the EKG the patient will be screen-failed and exited from the study without having taken the follow-up cognition test. All data collected prior to the subject exit will be kept for data analysis.

Number of Subjects Previous similar studies suggest various findings for their effect size11. However, all the findings have been consistently supporting association between atrial fibrillation and cognitive impairment. Based upon a power of 80% and alpha of 0.05, most of the studies suggesting a need of over 250 subjects (98-472), therefore up to 600 subjects will be recruited in this study with a goal of obtaining data on at least 250 participants.

PROCEDURES TO MINIMIZE RISKS To minimize risks associated with breach of confidentiality all data will be entered into Centura work stations where clinicians enter patient data into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), which is the patient's clinical record, that includes firewall and password protection. Data pertinent to this study will be transferred to a Centura Health password protected computer in a non-identifiable manner. All identifiable data will be kept in a key protected room only accessible by the research staff.

To minimize risks associated with psychological discomfort as a result of taking the Cambridge Cognition test or its results, breaks will be given where appropriate and the patient will be reminded frequently that they may stop the test at any time should they feel uncomfortable.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects who are patients at CSC or Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.
* Subjects actively in an episode of paroxysmal, or persistent AF (who are expected to receive treatment and converted back to normal rhythm (through antiarrhythmic drug therapy, direct current cardioversion, ablation or Maze/Minimally invasive Maze procedure).
* Subjects with a history of AF who have had \>3 documented episodes of AF over the preceding 12 months and meet all other inclusion/exclusion criteria can pre-enroll. The cognition tests will be administered during the patient's next captured AF episode.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who had coronary bypass surgery during their life time.
* Patients with a previously documented history of post-pump syndrome during their life time.
* Patients with presence of, or medical diagnosis of Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA).
* Patients with presence of, or medical diagnosis of cognitive impairment (dementia, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, etc.).
* Female patients who are pregnant or post-partum.
* Individuals unwilling or unable to take an anticoagulant.