Age >65 years (OR 1.68), elevated postoperative BNP (OR 3.82), male gender (OR 1.82), smoking (OR 1.72), hypertension (OR 1.63), TNM stage II (OR 2.21), and perioperative blood transfusion (OR 3.74) were all significantly associated with increased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation in lung cancer surgery patients.
Meta-Analysis (n=20,701)
Yes
Age >65, male gender, smoking, hypertension, elevated postoperative BNP, TNM stage II, and perioperative blood transfusion are significant risk factors for postoperative atrial fibrillation in lung cancer patients.
Effect estimate: OR with values for risk factors
Background This study aims to explore potential risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) following lung cancer surgery through a meta-analysis. Methods PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify all relevant studies on postoperative AF following lung cancer surgery. Inclusion criteria specified adult patients with lung cancer surgery who had clearly reported risk factors for AF. The search was conducted up to October 20, 2025. The quality of included studies was assessed using the standardized NOS scoring tool, and statistical analysis was performed using Stata 15. Data from all included studies were analyzed using a random-effects model. Results A total of 13 articles involving 20,701 lung cancer patients were included. The meta-analysis results suggest that age 65OR = 1.68, 95% CI (1.30, 2.16), Postoperative high BNP OR = 3.82, 95% CI (1.43, 10.25), male OR = 1.82, 95% CI (1.35, 2.45), smoking OR = 1.72, 95% CI (1.35, 2.21), hypertension OR = 1.63, 95% CI (1.08, 2.48), patients with TNM stage II lung cancer OR = 2.21, 95% CI (1.22, 4.01), transfusion OR = 3.74, 95% CI (2.28, 6.12) were associated with an increased risk of postoperative AF after lung cancer surgery. Conclusions This study suggesting that factors such as age 65 years, male gender, smoking, hypertension, elevated postoperative BNP levels, TNM stage II, and perioperative blood transfusion may be associated with an increased risk of postoperative AF in lung cancer patients. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251176315 , Prospero CRD420251176315.
Zhang et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Adult patients (age > 18) with lung cancer undergoing surgery (n=20,701). Age >65 years (OR 1.68), elevated postoperative BNP (OR 3.82), male gender (OR 1.82), smoking (OR 1.72), hypertension (OR 1.63), TNM stage II (OR 2.21), and perioperative blood transfusion (OR 3.74) were all significantly associated with increased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation in lung cancer surgery patients.