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Trial registered on ANZCTR
Registration number
ACTRN12624000994583
Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
8/07/2024
Date registered
14/08/2024
Date last updated
14/08/2024
Date data sharing statement initially provided
14/08/2024
Type of registration
Prospectively registered
Titles & IDs
Public title
The Effect of Catheter Ablation on Sexual Dysfunction
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Scientific title
The Effect of Catheter Ablation on Sexual Dysfunction in patients with atrial fibrillation.
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Secondary ID [1]
312476
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Nil Known
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Universal Trial Number (UTN)
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Trial acronym
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Linked study record
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Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
Atrial Fibrillation
334326
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Erectile Dysfunction
334327
0
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Premature Ejaculation
334328
0
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Female Sexual Dysfunction
334329
0
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Condition category
Condition code
Reproductive Health and Childbirth
330983
330983
0
0
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Other reproductive health and childbirth disorders
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Cardiovascular
331349
331349
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0
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Other cardiovascular diseases
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Intervention/exposure
Study type
Observational
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Patient registry
False
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Target follow-up duration
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Target follow-up type
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Description of intervention(s) / exposure
The exposure in this prospective observational cohort study is catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) with the control group being medical therapy for AF.
Participants will receive catheter ablation regardless of their involvement in this study, and not because of enrolment into the study. Participants must have been independently referred for catheter ablation for standard of care reasons prior to enrollment.
Patients will be required to complete a number of questionnaires with a total time commitment of approximately 30 minutes at study enrollment, and at 6 months follow-up (study conclusion). The questionnaires will specifically include the Sexual quality of life (male and female) survey, the international index of erectile dysfunction, the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool, the sexual health inventory for men, and the female sexual function index. Furthermore, the Canadian cardiovascular society AF score, New York Heart Association Dyspnea scale, and the DASS-21 will also be administered.
Baseline clinical information and procedural information will also be included in the assessment. These will be entered on initial study enrollment and from the medical records.
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Intervention code [1]
328995
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Not applicable
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Comparator / control treatment
The intervention group is catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, whilst the control group is medical therapy for AF ablation.
Medical therapy will be standard of care pharmacotherapy as prescribed by the treating physician (ie, rate control, anticoagulation, heart failure therapy).
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Control group
Active
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Outcomes
Primary outcome [1]
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Change in Sexual Quality of Life
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Assessment method [1]
338744
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Change in Overall Sexual QoL
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Timepoint [1]
338744
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Baseline (pre-intervention), and 6 months
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Secondary outcome [1]
437266
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Change in Sexual Quality of Life
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Assessment method [1]
437266
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The Female Sexual Function Index Score
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Timepoint [1]
437266
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baseline (pre intervention), and 6 months
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Secondary outcome [2]
437267
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Change in Sexual Quality of Life
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Assessment method [2]
437267
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The Sexual Quality of LIfe - Female Questionnaire
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Timepoint [2]
437267
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Baseline (pre intervention), and 6 months
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Secondary outcome [3]
437268
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Change in Sexual Quality of Life
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Assessment method [3]
437268
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The Sexual Quality of life - Male score
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Timepoint [3]
437268
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baseline (pre-intervention), and 6 months.
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Secondary outcome [4]
437269
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Change in Sexual Quality of Life
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Assessment method [4]
437269
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the International Index of erectile dysfunction score
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Timepoint [4]
437269
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Baseline (pre-intervention), and 6 months
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Secondary outcome [5]
437270
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Change in Sexual Quality of Life
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Assessment method [5]
437270
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The Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool
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Timepoint [5]
437270
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Baseline (pre-intervention), and 6 months
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Secondary outcome [6]
437271
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Change in Sexual Quality of Life
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Assessment method [6]
437271
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The Sexual Health Inventory for Men
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Timepoint [6]
437271
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Baseline (pre-intervention), and 6 months
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Secondary outcome [7]
437731
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Change in AF severity
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Assessment method [7]
437731
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NYHA functional class
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Timepoint [7]
437731
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Baseline pre ablation and at 6 months
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Secondary outcome [8]
437732
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Change in AF severity
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Assessment method [8]
437732
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Canadian Cardiovascular Society AF Score
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Timepoint [8]
437732
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Baseline pre ablation and 6 months post
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Secondary outcome [9]
437733
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Psychological Mood
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Assessment method [9]
437733
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The Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS - 21)
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Timepoint [9]
437733
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Baseline Pre Ablation and 6 months post
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Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
All patients with persistent or paroxysmal AF referred for either catheter ablation or medical therapy.
AF documented at least once in the past 6 months.
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Minimum age
18
Years
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Maximum age
No limit
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Sex
Both males and females
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Can healthy volunteers participate?
No
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Key exclusion criteria
Severe medical comorbidity the limits life expectancy to < 6 months
Unwilling or unable to consent.
Unwilling to unable to complete follow-up.
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Study design
Purpose
Natural history
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Duration
Longitudinal
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Selection
Defined population
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Timing
Prospective
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Statistical methods / analysis
Overview. All data analysis will occur offline and be completed by a qualified statistician. Baseline patient characteristics will be presented in mean ± SD or median [IQR]. A significance level of 0.05 will be considered significant. Appropriate adjustments for multiple comparisons will be made. Differences in variables between groups will be analysed with the chi squared or fisher exact test for categorical data and the T test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous data depending on distribution.
Sample Size. Most outcomes described in this study are qualitative in nature and hence amalgamated data and themes will be presented and are expected to be the main theme seen in the results. There is limited data to guide sample size calculations. One study reports a rate of approximately 10% for erectile dysfunction in new AF, whereas a recent meta analysis demonstrates that the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in AF is as high as 57%. Furthermore, a large observational study of patients with cardiovascular disease in general reports a prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men of 55% and 29% of women. There is limited to no data describing rates of sexual dysfunction post AF ablation. If we hypothesize that an AF ablation will cause a 15% decrease in major sexual dysfunction that would yield a total of 173 patients in each comparison group.
Assessment of bias. Reducing bias in observational studies remains difficult but is crucial to ensure the reliability and validity of results. Described below is out plan of how this will be addressed:
Design Phase
By strictly adhering to well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, selection bias can be minimized. This ensures that the study population accurately reflects the target demographic and that any external factors influencing sexual function are appropriately accounted for
To balance the characteristics of the intervention and control groups, propensity score matching may be employed depending on baseline assessment of the demographics in each group.
Data Collection Phase
All researchers and staff involved in data collection will be trained to follow standardized procedures. This includes the use of uniform scripts when administering surveys and consistent methods for recording and storing data to prevent measurement bias.
Employing validated questionnaires and instruments for assessing sexual function ensures that the data collected are reliable and comparable across participants. This approach helps in reducing information bias.
Analysis Phase
Statistical analyses will include adjustments for known confounders that might affect the relationship between catheter ablation and sexual function. Multivariable regression models can be used to account for these variables, thereby reducing the risk of confounding bias.
Conducting sensitivity analyses to explore the effects of potential unmeasured confounders on the study outcomes can provide insights into the robustness of the findings. This helps in assessing the impact of bias that may not have been fully eliminated.
An intention-to-treat approach, where participants are analyzed in the groups to which they were originally assigned regardless of whether they completed the intervention as planned, helps to mitigate the effects of attrition bias.
Reporting Phase
All methods, including those employed to reduce bias, will be transparently reported in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Additionally, any limitations of the study related to potential biases will be openly discussed.
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Recruitment
Recruitment status
Not yet recruiting
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Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
1/09/2024
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Actual
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Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
5/07/2025
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Actual
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Date of last data collection
Anticipated
5/01/2026
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Actual
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Sample size
Target
346
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Accrual to date
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Final
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Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
VIC
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Recruitment hospital [1]
26768
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The Alfred - Melbourne
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Recruitment hospital [2]
26769
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Cabrini Hospital - Malvern - Malvern
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Recruitment postcode(s) [1]
42818
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3004 - Melbourne
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Recruitment postcode(s) [2]
42819
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3144 - Malvern
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Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1]
316894
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Hospital
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Name [1]
316894
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Cabrini Hospital General Research Grant
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Address [1]
316894
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Country [1]
316894
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Australia
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Primary sponsor type
Hospital
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Name
Alfred Hospital
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Address
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Country
Australia
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Secondary sponsor category [1]
319144
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None
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Name [1]
319144
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Address [1]
319144
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Country [1]
319144
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Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
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Ethics committee name [1]
315656
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Alfred Hospital Ethics Committee
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Ethics committee address [1]
315656
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https://www.alfredhealth.org.au/research/ethics-research-governance
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Ethics committee country [1]
315656
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Australia
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Date submitted for ethics approval [1]
315656
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30/05/2024
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Approval date [1]
315656
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18/06/2024
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Ethics approval number [1]
315656
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Summary
Brief summary
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) remains the most prevalent heart rhythm disorder. AF causes morbidity and mortality, and also a negative effect on human sexual function. Furthermore, catheter ablation is an effective method of AF treatment, and the influence it has on human sexual function is unclear. This study hypothesises that catheter ablation will have a positive effect on human sexual function. This study aims to describe the effect of catheter ablation on human sexual function.
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Trial website
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Trial related presentations / publications
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Public notes
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Contacts
Principal investigator
Name
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A/Prof Aleksandr Voskoboinik
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Address
135394
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55 commercial road, Alfred Heart centre, Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia, 3004
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Country
135394
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Australia
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Phone
135394
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+613 9076 3263
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Fax
135394
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Email
135394
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[email protected]
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Contact person for public queries
Name
135395
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Nicholas D'Elia
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Address
135395
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55 Commercial Road, Alfred Heart Centre, Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia, 3004
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Country
135395
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Australia
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Phone
135395
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+613 90762000
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Fax
135395
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Email
135395
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[email protected]
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Contact person for scientific queries
Name
135396
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Nicholas D'Elia
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Address
135396
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55 commercial road, Alfred Heart Centre, Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia, 3004
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Country
135396
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Australia
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Phone
135396
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+61 3 90762000
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Fax
135396
0
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Email
135396
0
[email protected]
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Data sharing statement
Will individual participant data (IPD) for this trial be available (including data dictionaries)?
No
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No/undecided IPD sharing reason/comment
Sensitive Information
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What supporting documents are/will be available?
No Supporting Document Provided
Results publications and other study-related documents
Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.
Documents added automatically
No additional documents have been identified.
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