The impact of atrial fibrillation on outcomes in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy

Incidence and predictors of post-surgery atrial fibrillation occurrence: A cohort study in 53,387 patients

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents the most common arrhythmia in the postoperative setting. We aimed to investigate the incidence of postoperative AF (POAF) and determine its predictors, with a specific focus on inflammation markers.

Methods

We performed a retrospective single tertiary center cohort study including consecutive adult patients who underwent a major surgical procedure between January 2016 and January 2020. Patients were divided into four subgroups according to the type of surgery.

Results

Among 53,387 included patients (79.4% male, age 64.5 ± 9.5 years), POAF occurred in 570 (1.1%) with a mean latency after surgery of 3.4 ± 2.6 days. Ninety patients died (0.17%) after a mean of 13.7 ± 8.4 days. The 28-day arrhythmia-free survival was lower in patients undergoing lung and cardiovascular surgery (p < .001). Patients who developed POAF had higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (0.70 ± 0.03 vs. 0.40 ± 0.01 log10 mg/dl; p < .001). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, adjusting for confounding factors, CRP was an independent predictor of POAF [HR per 1 mg/dL increase in log-scale = 1.81 (95% CI 1.18-2.79); p = .007]. Moreover, independent predictors of POAF were also age (HR/1 year increase = 1.06 (95% CI 1.04-1.08); I < .001), lung and cardiovascular surgery (HR 23.62; (95% CI 5.65-98.73); p < .001), and abdominal and esophageal surgery (HR 6.26; 95% CI 1.48-26.49; p = .013).

Conclusions

Lung and cardiovascular surgery had the highest risk of POAF in the presented cohort. CRP was an independent predictor of POAF and postsurgery inflammation may represent a major driver in the pathophysiology of the arrhythmia.

Coexisting atrial fibrillation and cancer: time trends and associations with mortality in a nationwide Dutch study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Coexisting atrial fibrillation (AF) and cancer challenge the management of both. The aim of the study is to comprehensively provide the epidemiology of coexisting AF and cancer.

METHODS

Using Dutch nationwide statistics, individuals with incident AF (n = 320 139) or cancer (n = 472 745) were identified during the period 2015-19. Dutch inhabitants without a history of AF (n = 320 135) or cancer (n = 472 741) were matched as control cohorts by demographic characteristics. Prevalence of cancer/AF at baseline, 1-year risk of cancer/AF diagnosis, and their time trends were determined. The association of cancer/AF diagnosis with all-cause mortality among those with AF/cancer was estimated by using time-dependent Cox regression.

RESULTS

The rate of prevalence of cancer in the AF cohort was 12.6% (increasing from 11.9% to 13.2%) compared with 5.6% in the controls; 1-year cancer risk was 2.5% (stable over years) compared with 1.8% in the controls [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46-1.58], which was similar by cancer type. The rate of prevalence of AF in the cancer cohort was 7.5% (increasing from 6.9% to 8.2%) compared with 4.3% in the controls; 1-year AF risk was 2.8% (stable over years) compared with 1.2% in the controls (aHR 2.78, 95% CI 2.69-2.87), but cancers of the oesophagus, lung, stomach, myeloma, and lymphoma were associated with higher hazards of AF than other cancer types. Both cancer diagnosed after incident AF (aHR 7.77, 95% CI 7.45-8.11) and AF diagnosed after incident cancer (aHR 2.55, 95% CI 2.47-2.63) were associated with all-cause mortality, but the strength of the association varied by cancer type.

CONCLUSIONS

Atrial fibrillation and cancer were associated bidirectionally and were increasingly coexisting, but AF risk varied by cancer type. Coexisting AF and cancer were negatively associated with survival.

Cardiovascular Disease and Chronic Pulmonary Disease Increase the Risk of Short-Term Major Postoperative Complications after Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Background and objectives: Certain comorbidities may be associated with a higher risk of complications after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy. Material and Methods: Relying on a tertiary care database, we identified robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy patients (January 2014-March 2023). Short-term major postoperative complications were defined according to Clavien Dindo as ≥IIIa within 30 days after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy. Results: Of 1148 patients, the rates of postoperative Clavien Dindo IIIa, Clavien Dindo IIIb, Clavien Dindo IVa, and Clavien Dindo IVb complications were 3.3%, 1.4%, 0.3%, and 0.2%, respectively. Of those, 28 (47%) had lymphoceles, and 8 (13%) had bleeding-associated complications. Patients with cardiovascular disease (8 vs. 4%) or chronic pulmonary disease (13 vs. 5%) were more likely to have complications. In multivariable logistic regression models, cardiovascular disease (odds ratio: 1.78; p = 0.046) and chronic pulmonary disease (odds ratio: 3.29; p = 0.007) remained associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Conclusions: Complications after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy are predominantly manageable without anesthesia. Concomitant cardiovascular disease and chronic pulmonary disease were both associated with a higher risk of postoperative complications.

Risk Factors and In-Hospital Outcomes of Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation for Patients with Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Perioperative atrial fibrillation is a common postoperative complication. Adverse consequences associated with POAF include hemodynamic instability, increased risk of stroke, extended hospital stays, and increased mortality.

METHODS

To determine the risk factors for POAF and to investigate the outcomes of POAF for patients with cancer, a systematic search of the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases was conducted from inception of the study to 1 September 2021. The inclusion criteria specified studies reporting the prevalence of POAF among patients with cancer. The study excluded articles not written in English, review articles, case reports, letters, commentaries, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and conference abstracts.

RESULTS

The search identified 49 studies with 201,081 patients, and the pooled prevalence of POAF was 13.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.6-15.7%). Meta-analyses showed that the incidence of POAF among patients with cancer was associated with age (mean difference [MD], 4.31; 95%CI, 3.16-5.47), male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% CI, 1.19-1.62), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.71-3.56), hypertension (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.23-1.75), intraoperative blood transfusion (OR, 4.58; 95% CI, 2.31-9.10), and open surgery (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.26-1.81). Patients with POAF had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (OR, 4.25; 95% CI, 2.79-6.45), longer hospital stays (MD, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.63-4.51), and higher incidences of pneumonia (OR, 3.32; 95% CI, 2.85-3.86), stroke (OR, 6.57; 95% CI, 1.56-26.00), and myocardial infarction (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.45-6.20) than those without POAF.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with cancer, POAF is associated with an increased burden of comorbidities and worse outcomes.

Preoperative heart disease and risk for postoperative complications after pancreatoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Comorbidities increase the risk for postoperative complications after pancreatoduodenectomy. The importance of different categories of heart disease on postoperative outcomes has not been thoroughly studied.

METHODS

Patients aged ≥18 years undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy between 2008 and 2019 at Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden were included. Heart disease was defined as a preoperatively established diagnosis, and subcategorized into ischaemic, valvular, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Postoperative outcome was analysed by multivariable regression.

RESULTS

Out of 971 patients, 225 (23.3%) had heart disease. Heart disease was associated with an increased risk for complications; Clavien-Dindo score ≥ IIIa (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-2.18; p = 0.019), intensive care unit admissions (OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.81-5.66; p < 0.001) and longer hospitalizations (median 14 vs. 11 days; p < 0.001). Although heart disease was not associated with 90-day mortality, it conferred a shorter median overall survival (22 vs. 32 months; p < 0.001). Atrial fibrillation and heart failure were each associated with increased risk for postoperative complications, whereas ischaemic and valvular heart disease were not.

CONCLUSION

Atrial fibrillation and heart failure were independently associated with increased risk for postoperative complications. Despite no association with early postoperative mortality, heart disease negatively affected long-term survival.