title: Low vagal tone and supraventricular ectopic activity predict atrial fibrillation and flutter after coronary artery bypass grafting.
abstract: To investigate the impact of pre-operative autonomic balance and atrial ectopic activity on the risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter after aorto-coronary artery bypass surgery 24-h Holter monitoring was analysed in 102 patients before coronary artery bypass grafting. Index for vagal tone was calculated as % successive RR interval differences > 6%. Twenty-nine (28%) of the 102 patients developed atrial fibrillation or flutter. Independent predictors (90% confidence interval) of postoperative atrial fibrillation or flutter were identified by logistic regression analysis: the independent predictors were older age, relative risk 1.07.year-1 (1.02-1.12), vagal index < 10%, relative risk 4.50 (1.40-14.5), > or = 10 ectopic supraventricular beats . 24 h-1, relative risk 3.03 (1.05-8.72), and one or more events of non-sustained supraventricular tachycardia, relative risk 3.02 (1.11-8.22). Thus, age of the patient, attenuated pre-operative cardiac vagal modulation, ectopic supraventricular beats, and paroxysmal non-sustained supraventricular tachycardia are independent risk factors for the development of atrial fibrillation or flutter after coronary artery bypass surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Skejby Sygehus, University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mølgaard
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Allermand
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Thomsen
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000209:etiology*; D018880:Atrial Premature Complexes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists