Pre- and postoperative atrial fibrillation in CABG patients have similar prognostic impact

• Objectives: To study pre- and postoperative atrial fibrillation and its long-term effects in a cohort of aortocoronary bypass surgery patients.Design: Altogether 615 patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass graft surgery in 1999-2000 were studied. Forty-four (7%) had preoperative atrial fibrillation. Postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred in 165/615 patients (27%) while 406/615 patients (66%) had no atrial fibrillation. After a median follow-up of 15 years, symptoms and medication in survivors were recorded, and cause of death in the deceased was obtained.Results: Death due to cerebral ischaemia was most common in the pre- and postoperative atrial fibrillation groups (7% and 5%, respectively, v. 2% among those without atrial fibrillation, p = 0.038), as were death due to heart failure (18% and 14%, v. 7%, p = 0.007) and sudden death (9% and 5%, v. 2%, p = 0.029). The presence of pre- or postoperative atrial fibrillation was an independent risk factor for late mortality (hazard ratios 1.47 (1.02-2.12) and 1.28 (1.01-1.63), respectively).Conclusions: Patients with pre- or postoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery have increased long-term mortality and risk of cerebral ischemic and cardiovascular death compared with patients in sinus rhythm.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Atrial fibrillation

bypass surgery

cerebral ischaemia

anticoagulation

survival

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)