Peripheral arterial disease as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation in the postoperative period of myocardial revascularization: a retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common complication of myocardial revascularization surgery, associated with predisposing factors and outcomes such as increased hospital stay, higher stroke and mortality rates. The objective of this study is to estimate the incidence of POAF and associated factors and outcomes, with emphasis on peripheral arterial disease. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out involving adult patients admitted to admitted to the intensive care unit in the immediate postoperative period of myocardial revascularization surgery in a private hospital in South Brazil. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, hospital and intensive care unit stay, occurrence of stroke and death were collected. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent relationships between variables using Poisson Regression with a robust estimator. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 421 patients were included. The incidence of POAF was 23.8% (100 patients), statistically and independently associated with patient's older age (p<0.001), with systemic arterial hypertension (p<0.001) and with peripheral arterial disease (p<0.001). Increased incidence of POAF was also associated with increased hospital and intensive care unit length of stay. CONCLUSION: A higher incidence of POAF after myocardial revascularization was associated with peripheral arterial disease, older age, and systemic arterial hypertension.