AF common in month after cardiac surgery, study finds

A usual-care approach only detects a tenth of patients experiencing AF episodes, data show
Reuters Health

One in five patients discharged home after cardiac surgery are likely to have atrial fibrillation episodes during the 30 days post-surgery, Canadian researchers report.

But only a tenth of these patients will be picked up by a usual-care approach to detecting AF, their study shows.

In the study, 336 patients without preoperative AF who had undergone cardiac surgery (median CHA2DS2-VASc score of 4, mean age 67, 22% female) were randomised to receive continuous electrocardiogram monitoring with wearable patch-based monitors for 30 days or to receive usual care.

All participants had a CHA2DS2VASc score of at least 4, or a score of at least 2 along with risk factors for postoperative AF, or postoperative AF within the first 24 hours after surgery.