Newly developed post-operative atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of late recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients who underwent open heart surgery: Long-term follow up.

BACKGROUND: Herein is sought to determine whether the occurrence of post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) increases the risk of late recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing open heart surgery (OHS).

METHODS: This study included 938 patients (56.7 ± 13.1 years old, 550 males) with no history of AF who underwent OHS. All patients were monitored continuously for development of POAF after surgery until the time of hospital discharge and received clinical follow up with serial evaluation of rhythm status.

RESULTS: Among the total population, POAF occurred in 207 (22.1%) patients and late AF in 88 (9.4%) patients during the mean follow up period of 78.1 ± 39.1 months. Development of late AF oc¬curred more frequently in patients with POAF than in those without [29.0% (60/207) vs. 3.8% (28/731), p < 0.01]. Higher septal E/e' ratio (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.08, p = 0.04) was an independent predic¬tor of late occurrence of AF and an episode of POAF (HR 27.12, 95% CI 8.46-86.96, p < 0.01) was the most powerful predictor.

CONCLUSIONS: POAF is significantly associated with an increased risk of late AF recurrence during long-term follow up. Careful concern regarding late recurrence of AF with serial evaluation of rhythm status is required in patients with POAF.