Hematological indicators as predictors of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery

Newly diagnosed postoperative atrial fibrillation (NDPAF) is one of the most common complications after cardiovascular surgery, provoking early and late complications, such as cardiovascular, thromboembolic complications, cerebral circulation disorders, prolonged hospital stay and repeated hospitalizations to the intensive care unit and hospital.

Objective. To identify biochemical and clinical predictors of NDPAF in patients who underwent open-heart surgery for any indication.

Materials and methods. The study included patients operated in the cardiac surgery department No.2 of the Research Institute – Prof. S.V. Ochapovsky Territorial Clinical Hospital One (Krasnodar) in the period from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021. During the analyzed period of time, open heart surgery was performed in 1503 patients, of whom 158 (10.5%) had NDPAF.

Results. Hematological/biochemical parameters include low levels of hemoglobin (<12.5 g/dl), hematocrit (<35%), erythrocytes (<4,2•1012/L), and high levels of lymphocytes (>3,0•109/L), bilirubin (20.5 mmol/L), creatinine (115 mmol/L), urea (8.3 mmol/L), aspartate aminotransferase (>35 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (>55 U/L), C-reactive protein (>5 mg/L) were associated with an increased frequency of NDPAF in single-factor analysis (p<0.05 for all comparisons).

Conclusion. Hematological indicators can predict the risk of atrial fibrillation before surgery. The study of risk factors for NDPAF will allow to effectively influence them, thereby preventing the possibility of arrhythmia and improving the prognosis for postoperative complications and survival.