Limitations
This is a retrospective analysis of a relatively small number of
patients. We decided to include all patients with AF following cardiac
surgery irrespective of history of AF to overcome the variation in
definition of POAF in different studies. Thus, our results applied to
all patients with AF following cardiac surgery and not specifically to
patients with POAF (patients with no history of AF).
In summary, preoperative AF and age were independent predictors
of AF following cardiac surgery.