ABSTRACT
Atrial fibrillation [AF] after coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] is a common complication with potentially higher risk of adverse outcome and prolonged hospital stay. To determine the impact of postoperative AF [POAF] on long-term outcome in a large cohort of patients who underwent CABG. We conducted an observational cohort study of 989 patients who underwent isolated CABG with more than 5-year follow-up. Patient divided in two groups: patients with and without POAF. In this study, atrial fibrillation developed after CABG in 156 patients [15.8%]. Patients with POAF were generally older [P = 0.001] and presented more often with comorbidities including congestive heart failure [P = 0.001], hypertension [P = 0.001], peripheral vascular disease [P = 0.001], hyperlipidemia [P = 0.009], and renal failure [P = 0.001]. Five-year mortality was observed in 23 [2.3%] patients. Patients with POAF had higher five-year mortality rate than those without POAF. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that AF after surgery has a strong effect on mortality [HR, 3.3; 95% CI, 0.04-10.8, P = 0.04] and morbidity rates [HR, 4.0; 95% CI, 2.35-6.96, P = 0.001]. Postoperative atrial fibrillation strongly predicts higher long-term mortality and morbidity following coronary artery bypass graft