Middle-aged men with increased waist circumference and elevated C-reactive protein level are at higher risk for postoperative atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery

Abstract

We recently demonstrated that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an independent risk factor for postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In the present work, we sought to determine which feature of the MetS is associated with POAF. We retrospectively analysed the association between metabolic features and the incidence of new-onset POAF in a total of 2214 male patients 102 cm [odds ratio (OR) = 1.40, P = 0.04)] and older age (OR = 1.08, P < 0.001). In the nested case–control substudy C-reactive protein, IL-6, and TBARS levels were not significantly different in patients with or without POAF. Of particular significance, patients with elevated WC > 102 cm and C-reactive protein > 1.5 mg/L or IL-6 >2.2 pg/mL were at a high risk of developing POAF (respectively, OR = 2.32, P = 0.02 and OR = 2.27, P = 0.03). Patients with increased WC combined with elevated C-reactive protein levels are at higher risk for POAF. Thus, interventions targeting inflammation related to visceral obesity might help reducing the incidence of POAF.