Submitted by James Cantwell on Tue, 28/04/2026 - 08:56
The SAFER Programme (Screening for Atrial Fibrillation with ECG to Reduce Stroke) is an international research partnership led by Prof Jonathan Mant, investigating whether screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) can reduce the risk of stroke.
AF is a major risk factor for ischaemic stroke unless treated with anticoagulant medication. However, detecting AF can be challenging because it is often intermittent (paroxysmal) and many people experience no symptoms.
At present, there is insufficient evidence to support the introduction of a national AF screening programme. The SAFER Programme aims to address this evidence gap by answering a key question: is screening for AF effective and cost effective in reducing stroke and other important health outcomes compared with current practice?
We are pleased to announce that colleagues in Australia running the SAFER-Aus Trial have now completed recruitment and screening. The SAFER-Aus Trial will provide valuable additional data alongside the UK trial, strengthening the overall international evidence base. You can read more about this milestone in a news feature from Australian broadcaster 9News, available via the link: https://youtu.be/VeoL0mWCBz4?si=wLPwoh6zVHKF6tks