Join COS-ABACUS

Help Shape the Future of Research in Atrial Fibrillation During Critical Illness

Are you a healthcare professional working in intensive care or cardiology? A researcher committed to improving outcomes in critical illness? A patient or carer with lived experience of atrial fibrillation (AF) during hospitalisation? 

If so, we invite you to participate in COS-ABACUS, a major international initiative to define what matters in clinical trials for new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) in critically ill patients. 

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and endorsed by the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC), COS-ABACUS is developing a Core Outcome Set (COS) – a standardised list of outcomes that should be measured and reported in all future trials on the prevention and treatment of NOAF in critical care. This will enable better research, reduce waste, and provide high-quality evidence to inform clinical guidelines and frontline care. 

Why It Matters 

NOAF affects up to 46% of patients admitted to intensive care with septic shock and is linked to serious complications, including stroke, permanent AF, and increased mortality. Yet despite the urgency, current research is inconsistent – studies define NOAF differently and measure different outcomes, making it impossible to compare results or identify the best treatments. 

By joining COS-ABACUS, you will help define the outcomes most relevant to clinical practice and most meaningful to patients. 

What’s Involved 

Participation is flexible and fully supported: 

– Two rounds of online Delphi surveys (approx. 20 minutes each) 

– Optional virtual consensus workshops 

– Opportunities to help review how outcomes are measured 

– Support and guidance provided for all participants-including patients and public contributors 

Who We’re Looking For 

We are building a global, diverse group of stakeholders, including: 

– Intensive care clinicians, cardiologists, and nurses 

– Clinical researchers, trialists, and methodologists 

– Patients and carers with experience of AF and/or critical illness 

– Representatives from LMICs and international organisations 

Your expertise or experience-clinical or personal-is essential. 

How to Get Involved 

To express your interest, please sign up by scanning the QR code, or you can also contact the study team using the following email or contact us directly at cos-abacus@liverpoolft.nhs.uk  

Be part of an internationally recognised, NIHR-funded effort to improve care for some of the most vulnerable patients. 

Together, we can shape future research, influence guidelines, and make sure that what matters most really counts.