RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

SCAD : a Registry of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

This study, called SCAD, is collecting important information about a heart condition known as Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. SCAD happens when a tear forms in a heart artery, and it often affects younger women who don't have typical risk factors for heart disease. This study is observational, meaning you won't be given any new treatments; instead, researchers will gather details from your medical records. The goal is to understand how SCAD is currently managed across many European countries. By collecting this information, doctors hope to create better guidelines for diagnosing and treating SCAD, help other medical professionals learn more, and improve future research into this condition.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

European Society of Cardiology

Enrolment target

1,500

Start

30 Jan 2021

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2027

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

What is this study about?

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, often called SCAD, is a heart condition where a tear occurs in one of the arteries that supply blood to your heart. This can lead to a heart attack. It's becoming more recognised, especially in younger women who might not have the usual risk factors like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Because it's less common than other heart conditions, doctors are still learning the best ways to diagnose and treat it.

This study, called 'SCAD: a Registry of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection', is designed to gather vital information about this condition. A 'registry' is like a large database that collects details from many patients over time. There are no new treatments or tests involved in this study. Instead, researchers will be looking at existing medical records and following up with patients to understand how SCAD is currently being managed.

By collecting information from hospitals across many different countries in Europe, this study aims to build the first large-scale European database for SCAD. This will help doctors understand if there are differences in how SCAD is diagnosed and treated in various places. The information gathered will be incredibly valuable. It will help create better official guidelines for doctors, educate healthcare professionals about SCAD, and guide future research efforts to improve care for everyone affected by this condition.

Key takeaways

This study collects information about Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD).
It's an observational study, meaning no new treatments or tests are given.
Data is gathered from your existing medical records and regular follow-ups for up to 5 years.
The aim is to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment guidelines for SCAD globally.
Your participation helps future SCAD patients and advances medical knowledge.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be at least 18 years old and have been diagnosed with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) within the last 10 years. It’s also important that your medical records include images from a coronary angiogram, which is a test that looks at your heart arteries.

Before taking part, you'll need to read and sign an informed consent form, which explains the study in detail. This shows you understand what's involved and agree to participate.

You cannot join the study if your heart artery tear was caused by a medical procedure or by typical heart disease (atherosclerosis). Also, if you are unable or unwilling to give your consent, you unfortunately won't be able to participate.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you been diagnosed with SCAD in the last 10 years?
Do your medical records include coronary angiogram images?
Was your SCAD not caused by a medical procedure or typical heart disease?
Are you able and willing to sign a consent form?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this registry, it's important to understand there are no new treatments or medicines involved, as this is an observational study. This means the researchers will be collecting information from your past and ongoing medical care.

Initially, they will look back at your medical records from when you had your first SCAD event. Then, when you join the study, some information will be collected at that point. After that, researchers will follow up with you once a year for up to five years, or until the study finishes. These follow-ups will mainly involve collecting updated information from your medical records about your health and any care you've received. You won't be asked to visit the clinic any extra times just for the study; the information will come from your regular appointments.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study will not involve any direct personal benefit or risks from new treatments or procedures, as it's purely observational. However, by allowing your medical information to be used, you'll be contributing to a much better understanding of SCAD. This knowledge could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment guidelines for future patients, and help doctors globally learn more about this condition. Your decision to participate is entirely voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your medical care.

Locations (73)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

ICBA - Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires
Verified postcode
Buenos Aires, Argentina· Recruiting
Medical University of Innsbruck, Internal Medicine III
Verified postcode
Innsbruck, Austria· Recruiting
Klinik Landstrasse
Verified postcode
Vienna, Austria· Recruiting
Klinik Ottakring
Verified postcode
Vienna, Austria· Recruiting
Medical University of Vienna
Verified postcode
Vienna, Austria· Recruiting
Landesklinikum Wiener Neustadt
Verified postcode
Wiener Neustadt, Austria· Recruiting
AZ Sint jan, current president of Belgian ACCA
Verified postcode
Bruges, Belgium· Recruiting
Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc (UCL)
Verified postcode
Brussels, Belgium· Recruiting
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussels
Verified postcode
Brussels, Belgium· Active not recruiting
Antwerp University Hospital
Verified postcode
Edegem, Belgium· Recruiting
Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Interventional cardiology/Coronary Care
Verified postcode
Genk, Belgium· Recruiting
AZ Sint Lucas hospital
Verified postcode
Ghent, Belgium· Active not recruiting

Common questions

What is Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)?

SCAD is a heart condition where a tear forms in one of the heart's arteries, often leading to a heart attack. It's 'spontaneous' because it's not usually caused by common heart disease factors.

Will I receive any new treatment if I join this study?

No, this is an observational study, which means researchers will only collect information from your existing medical records. You won't receive any new treatments or medicines through the study.

How long will I be involved in the study?

Researchers will follow up with you once a year for up to five years, or until the study concludes. This involves gathering updated information from your medical records.

Will my personal details be kept private?

Yes, your data will be handled with strict confidentiality. Your name and other identifying details will be removed so that your information can't be traced back to you personally.

What is the main goal of this study?

The main goal is to understand how SCAD is currently diagnosed and treated across Europe. This information will help develop better guidelines, educate doctors, and improve future research into SCAD.

How to find out more

Adham GHARIEB, PharmD

agharieb@escardio.org 048-388-1770 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.