Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
PulseExploreClubsResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeClubsExplore
June 27, 2026EP EuropaceOpen Access

POAF linked to transient autonomic co-activation rather than irreversible atrial fibrosis.

View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Why the study?

Is postoperative atrial fibrillation driven by irreversible atrial fibrosis or transient autonomic dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery?

Population

4030 participants, including 16 healthy volunteers and 4014 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery…

Design

Cohort

Follow-up

7 days

Key result

Postoperative atrial fibrillation was associated with transient autonomic co-activation, reflected by higher HRV indices (P<0.001), rather than irreversible atrial fibrosis (P>0.05).

Authors

YZY ZhangHWH S WangDBD Benditt

Discussion

Loading...

Member takes

Overview

Hypothesis-generating for atrial fibrosis in CVD-related arrhythmias; prospective studies needed before clinical adoption.

Key Points

  • This research aims to clarify the mechanisms underlying postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and identify effective prevention strategies.
  • Evaluated structural and functional determinants of POAF in a prospective observational study.
  • Included 4030 participants, with 16 undergoing 18F-AlF-FAPI–PET-MRI for atrial fibrosis assessment.
  • 3929 surgical patients participated in heart-rate-variability analysis to assess autonomic function.
  • Higher atrial fibrosis observed in cardiovascular disease patients compared to healthy controls (P<0.01).
  • No significant difference in fibrosis burden between patients with and without POAF (P>0.05).
  • HRV indices were consistently higher in POAF patients, with significant increases noted before POAF onset (P<0.001).

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=4,030)

Structured PICO

Is postoperative atrial fibrillation driven by irreversible atrial fibrosis or transient autonomic dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery?

P
Population
4,030 participants, including 16 healthy volunteers and 4,014 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, evaluated for structural and functional determinants of postoperative atrial fibrillation.
O
Outcome
Atrial fibrosis burden (quantified by 18F-AlF-FAPI-PET-MRI) and autonomic function (assessed by perioperative heart-rate-variability analysis) in relation to postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) onsetsurrogate

Main Result

p-value: p=<0.001

Postoperative atrial fibrillation appears to be driven by transient autonomic disequilibrium rather than irreversible atrial fibrosis, suggesting that early autonomic stabilization could be a key preventive strategy.

Cite This Study

Zhang et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Postoperative atrial fibrillation (n=4,030). Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) vs. Non-POAF patients was evaluated on Atrial fibrosis burden and heart-rate-variability (HRV) indices (p=<0.001). Postoperative atrial fibrillation was associated with transient autonomic co-activation, reflected by higher HRV indices (P<0.001), rather than irreversible atrial fibrosis (P>0.05).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a3f9785125782b61d8657d7https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euag105.378
View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share