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.