Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation in Noncardiac Surgeries for Malignancies and One-Year Recurrence

Perioperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in noncardiac surgeries is common. However, it is unclear whether such atrial fibrillation (AF) recurs in the long term.

This study was a prospective, single-center, observational study that included patients who underwent noncardiac surgeries for malignancies. Patients were followed up for 1 year to evaluate the incidence of AF, ischemic stroke, and mortality. An event-triggered recorder was used in patients with POAF. The incidences were compared according to the presence of POAF.

Of 752 consecutive patients, 77 (10.2%) developed POAF and wore an event recorder for 19 (12-30) days. AF and ischemic stroke at 1 year were observed in 24 patients (31.1%) and 2 patients (2.6%) with POAF and 4 patients (0.6%) and 3 patients (0.4%) without POAF, respectively. Of the 24 patients with POAF and AF recurrence, 22 (92%) were asymptomatic. Anticoagulation was prescribed in 67 patients (87%) with POAF. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that a higher AF recurrence rate in patients with POAF was associated with hypertension (hazard ratio, 2.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-7.38) and serum creatinine level (hazard ratio for 20 μmol/L increase, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-4.62).

AF recurs in approximately 30% of patients with POAF with malignancy in the subsequent year; most recurrences are asymptomatic.