Study: Obesity, Sleep-Disordered Breathing Affect Postcardiac Afib Risk

The combination of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obesity is associated with elevated risk of postcardiac surgery atrial fibrillation (PCSAF), according to the results of a recent study.

In their study, researchers sought to investigate the interrelationships between SDB, PCSAF, and obesity. They identified patients with polysomnography and cardiac surgery within 3 years, excluding individuals with preexisting atrial fibrillation.
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Overall, 190 patients were included. While SBD was significantly associated with PCSAF in unadjusted models, following adjustments, increasing apnea hypopnea index was not significantly associated with increasing risk of PCSAF, and neither central sleep apnea nor oxygen desaturation index was associated with PCSAF. However, a significant interaction with median BMI was noted.

“SDB was significantly associated with PCSAF in unadjusted analyses, but not after taking into account obesity; those with both SDB and obesity may represent a vulnerable subgroup to target to reduce PCSAF and its associated morbidity,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Kaw R, Zarif SE, Wang L, et al. Obesity as an effect modifier in sleep-disordered breathing and postcardiac surgery atrial fibrillation. Chest. 2017;151(6):1279-1287.