An observational study in Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter, sponsored by Emory University. Completed at 3 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2013-09-27.
Sponsored by Emory University · Observational
It is well known that atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter occur frequently after most types of cardiac surgeries.(1-4) Postoperative AF is associated with significant morbidity, longer hospital stay, and higher related costs. Currently, it is common procedure to premedicate patients with antiarrhythmic drugs for elective cardiac surgeries. Treatments such as beta blockers, Amiodarone, and electrical pacing are used to help prevent the morbidity associated with pot-operative AF.(5)
Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation may contribute to AF. Several clinical trials have suggested that inhibitors of this system may reduce the incidence of AF.(6-12) Patients with AF are known to have increased levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and some types of angiotensin receptors.(13-15) Data from animal studies performed by our group suggest that cardiac ACE overexpression may lead to arrhythmic ion channel changes.(16;17) Although not studied in this group yet, it would be reasonable to conclude that the use of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) would decrease the incidence of AF in post-operative patients, too
2.0 Objectives
Based on the discussion above, we hypothesize that patients premedicated on ACE Inhibitors and ARBs will have a decreased incidence of post-operative AF or atrial flutter. This study will be a retrospective cohort analysis of all patients that underwent elective cardiac surgeries between 2000-2005 at Emory University Hospital, Crawford Long Hospital, or the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center to evaluate the relationship of pre-operative ACE inhibitor or ARB use to the incidence of post-operative atrial arrhythmias.. This study is undertaken in preparation for a funding proposal for a prospective trial.
3.0 Patient Selection 3.1 Eligibility criteria:
3.2 Ineligibility criteria:
4.0 Registration and randomization: none
5.0 Therapy: none
6.0 Pathology: none
7.0 Patient assessment: none
8.0 Data collection: Data will be collected from review of the patient's hospital charts, from telemetry recordings, and ECGs to document the presence or absence of AF or atrial flutter during the hospital admission for cardiac surgery. The presence or absence of atrial fibrillation will be diagnosed on the basis of an electrocardiographic recording and confirmed by a cardiologist. Demographic data collected will include: age, race, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, NYHA classification, Killip classification, and the history of previous myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol use, antiarrhythmic drug use, presence and type of pacemaker if any, history of AF or atrial flutter, previous cardiovascular events, type of operation, and length of operation. Patients enrolled in this study will be given unique study numbers. No follow up data will be required from patients.
9.0 Statistical considerations: This study design is a retrospective chart review of a cohort of patients undergoing cardiac surgery to determine if there is an association between pre-operative ARB or ACE inhibitor use and the incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. The null hypothesis is that there is no association between the preoperative use of ACE Inhibitors and ARBs and postoperative AF and atrial flutter. Within the cohort, those patients with AF or atrial flutter will be compared to those without these atrial arrhythmias in the post-operative period. Baseline data for the two groups will be expressed as mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables, and frequencies for categorical variables. Differences in baseline characteristics between the groups will be examined by use of Fisher exact and Mann-Whitney tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Quantification of any association between pre-operative ACE Inhibitors and ARBs and the presence of atrial fibrillation will modeled by logistical regression analysis after adjusting for other variables that may affect arrhythmia frequency.
3,870 studies on the registry are indexed under Atrial Fibrillation; 924 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 546 is above the median of 300 across 1,363 observational studies indexed under Atrial Fibrillation.
Browse Atrial Fibrillation studies →Emory University is the lead sponsor of 1,386 studies on the registry; 236 are open to participants now.
Of its 229 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 174 (76%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
All patients, 18 years or older up to and including 65 years of age, who underwent elective cardiac surgery in the Emory University Hospital, Crawford Long Hospital, or the VA Medical Center between 2000-2005.
Exclusion Criteria:
Retrospective study - no intervention as part of study.
Evaluate the relationship of pre-operative ACE inhibitor or ARB use to the incidence of post-operative atrial arrhythmias.
Time frame: 1 year
This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2013. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Emory University