Postoperative atrial fibrillation following non-cardiac surgery: Predictors and risk of mortality.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a major complication that follows both cardiac and non-cardiac procedures. Many studies have explored POAF after cardiac procedures, however POAF following non-cardiac procedures has been understudied.
Methods: National Inpatient Sample database was utilized to conduct a retrospective study of hospitalizations with diagnosis of POAF following non-cardiac procedures between 2010 and 2015.
Results: 294,112 patients met the inclusion criteria. Advanced age, male gender, colonic resections, coagulopathy, fluid and electrolyte disorders and history of congestive heart failure are major predictors of POAF and in-hospital mortality. Race, type of insurance, income quartile and weekend admissions are independent determinants of mortality following POAF.
Conclusions: Development of POAF and mortality is dependent upon a wide range of factors not limited to age and medical comorbidities. Although a patient may be at an increased risk for POAF this does not mean they are at an increased risk for mortality.
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