Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Its Association with Length of Stay, Discharge Disposition, and 90-Day Outcomes

The study analyzed 4,684 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in Florida between January 2021 and June 2024. Postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred in 355 patients (7.58%). Patients with atrial fibrillation had 30% longer hospitalization and 33% higher probability of discharge to a healthcare facility rather than home. However, atrial fibrillation was not independently associated with 90-day hospital readmission or complications. Chronic heart failure was the dominant predictor of adverse outcomes. Bayesian analysis showed that the baseline probability of a 90-day complication was 27.2%, but when atrial fibrillation and heart failure were combined, it increased to 42.6%. The results suggest that post-discharge outcomes are primarily determined by underlying chronic conditions rather than atrial fibrillation alone.