The preoperative glomerular filtration rate predicts new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who undergo isolated septal myectomy

Introduction

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, and it is associated with increased risks of stroke and mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and additional healthcare costs (1). The incidence of POAF following cardiac surgery is between 10% and 65% (2), which varies according to the type of surgery. POAF commonly occurs within 1 week of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (3) and valve surgery (4). Different risk factors are associated with the development of new-onset POAF after cardiac surgery, including older age, left atrial (LA) enlargement, a history of congestive heart failure (CHF), obesity, and hypertension (5). However, most studies involving POAF investigated patients who have undergone CABG or valve surgery.

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is associated with diastolic dysfunction caused by left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, reduced LV compliance, resulting in an increase in the LV end-diastolic pressure and the LA afterload (6). Septal myectomy is the gold standard treatment for HOCM that is refractory to medication (7). Atrial fibrillation (AF) is very common among patients with HOCM, and it underlies patients’ worsening symptoms and quality of life (8).

Few studies have investigated the risk factors associated with POAF after septal myectomy despite its significant influence in the early recovery of patients with HOCM who have undergone septal myectomy. AF has a bidirectional relationship with renal dysfunction (9), which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Indeed, a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is associated with the development of AF (10), while the presence of AF promotes impaired renal function (11). Furthermore, declining eGFRs are associated with an increased risk of AF recurrence after successful electrical cardioversion (12). However, the association between renal dysfunction and POAF after cardiac surgery (13) is poorly described, especially among patients with HOCM. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the incidence and prognostic effects of POAF following septal myectomy in patients with HOCM. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of renal dysfunction and other factors in the development of POAF. We present the following article in accordance with the STORBE reporting checklist (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd-20-3164).

Methods

Patient population

Initially, we considered 698 consecutive patients who underwent septal myectomy at our institution between January 2012 and March 2018. Among them, 300 consecutive patients who underwent isolated septal myectomy were included in this study. HOCM was diagnosed based on the presence of LV hypertrophy in the absence of other cardiac or systemic diseases. Septal myectomies were performed on patients whose symptoms were refractory to treatment with drugs and whose maximum LV outflow tract gradients (LVOTGs) or midventricular gradients were ≥50 mmHg at rest or following physiologic provocation. The criteria used to diagnose HOCM and its surgical indications were consistent with the 2011 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation guidelines (14) and the 2014 European Society of Cardiology guidelines (15). This study’s inclusion process and exclusion criteria are presented in Figure 1. The patients’ demographic and clinical data, echocardiographic findings, and complete medical histories were collected prospectively, and their follow-up data were obtained from clinics or through telephone conversations between the patients and a blinded investigator. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013). The study was approved by ethics board of Fuwai Hospital (NO.: 20201315) and individual consent for this retrospective analysis was waived.

Figure 1 Flowchart of the study population selection process. POAF, postoperative atrial fibrillation; ACEIs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; ARBs, angiotensin-receptor blockers.

Laboratory tests and echocardiography

Venous blood samples were obtained during a patient’s first admission before cardiac surgery. The plasma was isolated after centrifugation, and the serum creatinine (sCr) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured. The patients’ preoperative eGFRs were calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation that has been adapted for the Chinese population as follows (16): eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m²) = 175 × sCr − 1.234 (mg/dL) × age − 0.179 (×0.79, if female).

Experienced physicians conducted the echocardiographic examinations using an E9 ultrasound system (General Electric Company, Boston, MA, USA). All patients underwent pre- and post-operative two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. The diameters of the cardiac chambers were recorded as the maximum anteroposterior diameters during the cardiac cycle. The thickness of the interventricular septum (IVS) was measured during diastole. The LVOTG was calculated using the simplified Bernoulli equation. The LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured according to the American Society of Echocardiography’s recommendations. The methods are described in more detail in our previous publication (17).

Cardiac surgery

We performed a septal myectomy (extended Morrow procedure), as described previously (17). The hypertrophic ventricular septum that caused the systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve and LV outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction was resected. The resection was made along a longitudinal axis from approximately 4 mm below the aortic ring to the apex of the left ventricle and beyond the bases of the papillary muscles along the short axis, the myectomy began rightward to the nadir of the right aortic cusp, and it advanced to the left and terminated near the mitral anterior commissure. The hypertrophy of the LV anterior free wall that caused LVOT narrowing also required resection. Furthermore, the anomalous chordal attachments affecting the LVOT were excised. Reoperation was required if intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography detected a postoperative LVOT gradient >30 mmHg or if the presence of more than moderate mitral valve regurgitation after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is detected.

POAF and outcome assessments

Electrocardiography (ECG) and/or Holter monitoring assessed the patients postoperatively. All patients were monitored for the occurrence of POAF during their postoperative hospital stays using continuous electrocardiographic telemetry. Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms were recorded daily to inform staff of suspected arrhythmic events. POAF was defined as any sustained AF episode lasting ≥30 min that was recorded by continuous telemetry during a patient’s hospitalization or the need for treatment. A POAF diagnosis was confirmed by experienced cardiologists in ECG room.

Postoperative medication

For patients with symptomatic obstructive HOCM, beta-blockers were the first drug of choice; hence, beta-blockers were restarted as soon as possible during the postoperative period, unless they were contraindicated. Intravenous amiodarone or ibutilide was used if POAF occurred, and most POAF resolved spontaneously; these patients received beta-blockers continuously. Some patients presented with recurrent POAF episodes after the initial intervention, and they were prescribed with amiodarone. Anticoagulants, including warfarin or novel oral anticoagulants, continued for 3 months after discharge. All patients were followed-up closely, and their treatments were adjusted promptly according to their most recent evaluations.

Follow-up and study outcomes

Information about a patient’s clinical status after the myectomy was obtained through telephone conversations with the patient or members of their family. The final follow-up assessment was conducted in May 2019. The study’s primary outcome was the development of new-onset POAF during hospitalization. Major adverse cardiac events were defined as a thromboembolic event, including an ischemic stroke, a transient ischemic attack, or a peripheral embolism, AF requiring hospitalization, CHF requiring hospitalization, and cardiovascular death.

Statistical analyses

The statistical analyses were performed using IBM^®SPSS^®, version 22.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA). The continuous data are expressed as mean and standard deviation, and were compared using Student’s t-test, while the continuous data are expressed as median (interquartile ranges), and were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. The categorical data are presented as numbers (percentages), and they were compared using the chi-squared test. The preoperative eGFR cutoff value was determined from the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Correlation analyses were performed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Univariate and backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine predictors of POAF. The nonparametric variables were log transformed. Variables with values of P<0.1 in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate logistic regression model. The Kaplan-Meier method was used with log-rank tests to evaluate event-free survival. A two-sided value of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Patients’ baseline characteristics and the POAF rate after isolated septal myectomy

Three hundred consecutive patients were enrolled in our study, of whom, 197 were men (65.67%) and 103 were women (34.33%). The patients’ mean age was 43.54±13.81 years. POAF occurred in 68 of 300 patients (22.67%) after a median duration of 2 days (range, 0–7 days) after septal myectomy. Table 1 presents the baseline clinical characteristics of the patients with and without POAF. Compared to patients without POAF, patients with POAF were significantly older (41.12±13.47 years vs. 51.81±11.64 years, P<0.001), had higher mean body mass index (BMI) (24.75±3.81 vs. 25.72±2.79 kg/m², P=0.023), and a higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (2.69±0.46 vs. 2.88±0.37, P<0.001). Additionally, patients with POAF were more likely to have chest pain (23.28% vs. 35.29%, P=0.047), syncope (9.91% vs. 23.53%, P=0.002), and hypertension (13.36% vs. 29.41%, P=0.002). Additionally, patients with POAF had significantly lower preoperative eGFR compared to patients without POAF (93.63±18.62 vs. 104.31±21.84 mL/min/1.73 m², P<0.001). However, no significant difference was found in patients’ preoperative sCr levels (77.59±15.34 vs. 76.60±21.43 µmol/L, P=0.740). There were no differences between the groups regarding the other baseline characteristics.

Table 1 Baseline characteristics and preoperative clinical variables of patients with and without POAF
Full table

Table 2 summarizes the patients’ preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic data. The patients with POAF had larger LA diameters (LADs) preoperatively (46.13±6.45 vs. 44.13±7.12 mm, P=0.038) and postoperatively (41.04±6.08 vs. 38.02±6.10 mm, P<0.001), and larger LV end-diastolic diameters (LVEDDs) preoperatively (43.56±4.32 vs. 41.78±5.36 mm, P=0.019) and postoperatively (45.08±4.19 vs. 44.27±5.07 mm, P=0.038) than the patients without POAF. The patients with and without POAF did not differ regarding the other echocardiographic variables.

Table 2 Pre- and post-operative echocardiography characteristics of patients with and without POAF
Full table

The patients with POAF spent more time on mechanical ventilation (21.81±16.04 vs. 17.38±9.34 h, P=0.033), in the intensive care unit (ICU) (58.07±38.69 vs. 53.63±29.35 h, P=0.038), and in the hospital after the operation (10.22±6.77 vs. 7.81±3.23 days, P=0.006) than the patients without POAF. The groups did not differ regarding the CPB time, time to aortic occlusion, prevalence of early death, and major complication rates (Table 3).

Table 3 Comparison of perioperative outcomes and early complications with and without POAF
Full table

Predictors of POAF

Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of POAF in the patients with HOCM who underwent septal myectomy (Table 4). The univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR) =1.072, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.045–1.100, P<0.001], the preoperative LAD (OR =1.042, 95% CI: 1.002–1.084, P=0.039), the LVEDD (OR =1.067, 95% CI: 1.010–1.127, P=0.020), hypertension (OR =2.702, 95% CI: 1.418–5.146, P=0.003), a history of chest pain (OR =1.798, 95% CI: 1.004–3.221, P=0.049), a history of syncope (OR =2.796, 95% CI: 1.379–5.668, P=0.004), an NHYA functional class ≥ III (OR =2.910, 95% CI: 1.367–6.189, P=0.006), and the preoperative eGFR (OR =0.975, 95% CI: 0.961–0.989, P<0.001) were potential risk factors associated with POAF. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR =1.090, 95% CI: 1.034–1.110, P<0.001), an NHYA functional class ≥ III (OR =2.985, 95% CI: 1.349–6.604, P=0.007), hypertension (OR =2.212, 95% CI: 1.062–4.608, P=0.034), a history of syncope (OR =3.890, 95% CI: 1.741–8.692, P=0.001), and the preoperative eGFR (OR =0.981, 95% CI: 0.965–0.996, P=0.015) were independent risk factors associated with POAF.

Table 4 Logistic analysis for predictors of postoperative atrial fibrillation
Full table

Preoperative eGFR and POAF prediction

ROC curve analyses evaluated the effectiveness of preoperative eGFR in identifying patients with POAF (Figure 2). The area under the ROC curve for the preoperative eGFR was 0.731 (95% CI: 0.677–0.780, P<0.001). The optimal preoperative eGFR cutoff value for the prediction of POAF in patients with HOCM who underwent septal myectomy was 103.23 mL/min/1.73 m², which had a sensitivity of 0.824 and a specificity of 0.578. A lower preoperative eGFR correlated negatively with the LAD (r=−0.228, P<0.001), the BMI (r=−0.301, P<0.001), and POAF (r=−0.335, P<0.001).

Figure 2 Receiver operating characteristic curves of estimated glomerular filtration rate level for predicting POAF after septal myectomy. The optimal cut-off point was 103.23 mL/min/1.73 m² predicted AF after myectomy with sensitivity and specificity of 82.35% and 57.76% [area under the curve (AUC) 0.731 (95% CI: 0.677–0.780), P<0.001]. POAF, postoperative atrial fibrillation; AF, atrial fibrillation; CI, confidence interval.

POAF and major adverse cardiac events after isolated septal myectomy

All patients were followed up successfully, and none of the patients died during the early postoperative period. All patients who had minor complications were discharged uneventfully. The mean follow-up interval was 27.65±19.47 months (range, 3–96 months). In total, 40 patients (13.33%) experienced major adverse cardiac events, which included 4 sudden deaths, 2 tumor-associated deaths, 10 patients who were readmitted with AF, 6 patients who had permanent pacemakers implanted, 13 patients who were hospitalized for heart failure, and 5 patients who experienced stroke and developed thrombi (Table 5). Compared with the patients without POAF, those with POAF were more likely to be hospitalized for AF occurrence (8.82% vs. 1.72%, P=0.004), CHF (10.29% vs. 2.59%, P=0.006), and stroke and thrombi (4.41% vs. 0.86%, P=0.040). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a lower event-free survival rate for the patients with POAF compared with patients without POAF (P=0.033, Figure 3).

Table 5 Major adverse cardiovascular events during follow-up
Full table

Figure 3 Event-free survival in patients with HOCM after myectomy according to the occurrence of POAF or not. Event-free survival in patients after myectomy with POAF and without POAF was different (log-rank statistic 4.542, P=0.033). POAF, postoperative atrial fibrillation; HOCM, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Discussion

This study’s findings demonstrated the incidence and the risk factors associated with POAF in patients with HOCM who had undergone isolated septal myectomy. Our findings showed that the preoperative eGFR had a moderate ability in predicting the occurrence of POAF in patients with HOCM. The patients with concurrent HOCM and POAF had a higher incidence of adverse cardiovascular events during follow-up, and their long-term event-free survival rate was lower compared to patients with HOCM alone. In addition to identifying risk factors that are well-established among patients who have undergone CABG or aortic valve replacement such as age and LAD (4,5), we identified previously unknown risk factors that were associated with POAF after septal myectomy, including the preoperative eGFR.

We excluded the influence of other procedures, including mitral valvuloplasty or replacement, and CABG, which can prolong the operative time (18) and CPB time (19), and increase the levels of inflammatory factors and myocardial injury, which may lead to AF. According to a study in our center (20), the incidence of POAF is low due to inconsistent criteria and time frame. In this study we collected consecutive cases of isolated septal myectomy, regardless of MRI results.

Our results showed that the patients with POAF were older, were more likely to have larger LADs, had higher BMIs, had a higher incidence of hypertension, and had worse NYHA functional classifications than the patients who did not have POAF, and, in general, these were independent risk factors associated with POAF after septal myectomy, which concurs with previous studies’ findings (4,5). Age is an independent risk factor for AF in the general population (21), and it is associated with atrial deterioration. Patients with HOCM who undergo septal myectomy are younger than patients who undergo CABG (22). However, the incidence of POAF following septal myectomy is not lower, which suggests that other factors may be involved in the occurrence of POAF after septal myectomy. Many studies have investigated the relationship between the LAD and AF (4,5,8), and recent studies’ findings have shown that the effectiveness of the LA volume index and LA function in predicting AF are better than predictions based on two-dimensional LAD measurements (23). Diastolic dysfunction is closely related to patients’ susceptibility to atrial arrhythmia (23-25), and it is clearly associated with a high prevalence of POAF (25). LV diastolic dysfunction is markedly more severe in patients with HOCM compared with the general population (7). Hypertension is the most significant risk factor associated with the development of LV diastolic dysfunction (26), and by aggravating LV diastolic dysfunction, it may be involved in the development of POAF. The preoperative LVEF did not differ between the groups of patients with HOCM in this study, because LV diastolic dysfunction is a key characteristic of these patients (15). However, our study’s findings showed that the patients with POAF had high preoperative NYHA functional classifications, and that chest pain and syncope occurred more frequently and were more distinctive in the patients with POAF. Hence, the condition of patients with POAF is more serious, and their diastolic dysfunction and myocardial ischemia are more severe.

There were no differences between the groups regarding the CPB time, the aortic cross-clamp time, or the expression of hs-CRP, which may indicate the degree of inflammation; however, other studies’ findings (19) are inconsistent in this regard. Some investigators (19,27) believe that CPB, inadequate atrial protection, a longer ischemic time, and increased levels of inflammatory factors cause POAF, but other studies’ findings have not shown any clear correlations between these factors and the occurrence of POAF (28). We showed that POAF was an independent risk factor associated with prolonged ICU and hospital stays, which suggests that while POAF affects patients’ early recoveries and, therefore, increases healthcare costs, it was not associated with higher early complication rates, which concurs with the conclusions from other studies (29,30).

In this study, we found that the preoperative eGFR, rather than the sCr level, may be an independent risk factor for POAF in patients with HOCM who undergo septal myectomy, and that the preoperative eGFR may have a moderate ability to predict the occurrence of POAF; these findings are similar to those from studies of 676 patients who underwent CABG (31). The patients in the POAF group had a significantly lower preoperative eGFR and higher sCr level, but the trend relating to the preoperative eGFR was more distinct. Previous studies’ findings have also shown that the eGFR, which is frequently monitored in clinical practice, describes renal dysfunction more accurately and rapidly (32). The mechanism underlying the occurrence of AF that results from renal insufficiency is not fully understood; it may be caused by hypertension, fluid overload, the pathological activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and the subsequent enhancement of myocardial fibrosis (33). Other studies’ findings have shown a common pathophysiological process underlying an eGFR decline and the occurrence of AF (34). Watanabe et al. (9) undertook a community-based, prospective study, and reported a bidirectional risk between renal insufficiency and AF. The findings from a recent meta-analysis of patients who underwent catheter ablation have also indicated the presence of a bidirectional association between AF and renal function (35).

While elevated LV pressure, LA pressure, and LA enlargement in patients with HOCM increase their susceptibility to AF (36), widespread LV diastolic dysfunction in these patients can cause hemodynamic abnormalities and venous congestion, which activates the RAAS that can compromise renal function and promote the decline of the eGFR (37,38). In this study, the preoperative eGFR cut-off value for the prediction of POAF was in the normal range, which might indicate a change in the renal function of HOCM patients with diastolic dysfunction, even if eGFR was in the low-normal level. We further found that a lower preoperative eGFR was significantly associated with a larger LAD and IVS, which suggests that the eGFR may reflect, in part, an LA enlargement and IVS thickening. LA enlargement is an important cause of AF, and the correlation between renal insufficiency and AF may be related to LA enlargement. For the general population, eGFR is within the normal range, while for the patients with HOCM, lower than the cut-off value may indicate the severity of LV diastolic dysfunction and the changes of tension and hormone secretion caused by LA enlargement, and then increases the susceptibility to POAF. Therefore, the preoperative eGFR may predict the occurrence POAF after septal myectomy.

Our results showed that a lower preoperative eGFR was significantly associated with a high incidence of new-onset POAF and a longer hospital stay. Therefore, preventing and reducing renal function deterioration and avoiding nephrotoxic drugs are important for patients with HOCM who are undergoing surgery. Treating common diseases such as hypertension can improve renal function and lead to favorable outcomes (38,39). To stabilize the heart’s rhythm, we continued to use beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to avoid AF, and when AF occurred, drug conversion therapy, which comprised of amiodarone or ibutilide, was required. In this study, the incidence of thrombi and stroke was higher among the patients with POAF compared to patients without POAF. Additionally, the sex, age 65–74 years, age ≥75 years, CHF, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and stroke or transient ischemic attack or thromboembolism-vascular disease, cannot predict thrombotic events very reliably (40). Therefore, we consider that antithrombotic drugs should be used to prevent thrombi in patients with HOCM and POAF after septal myectomy.

Limitations

The present study analyzed data from a retrospective, observational cohort; therefore, its findings should be interpreted in the context of the limitations associated with retrospective analyses. First, there may have been biases regarding the selection and enrollment of the patients. To avoid bias, we excluded patients with a history of AF, which may have been associated with a high predictive value. Second, the observed relationship between POAF and the preoperative eGFR can only be considered an association and not a causal relationship. Third, we accounted for POAF that occurred in the hospital, and paroxysmal and asymptomatic AF after discharge were not considered; hence, the incidence of POAF may have been underestimated. However, a recent study’s findings confirmed that most POAF occurs 2–5 days after cardiac surgery (2). Continuously monitoring heart rhythms during hospitalization captures most AF, and the proportion of patients with POAF who are discharged from hospital is very small. Fourth, the findings from a recent study (41) show that administering beta-blockers preoperatively can reduce the incidence of POAF after cardiac surgery. In this study, most patients received beta-blockers before surgery, which may have led to an underestimation of the actual incidence of POAF. Finally, the MDRD study equation was used to calculate the eGFRs, which are affected by age, and age is a risk factor that is also associated with POAF; therefore, POAF may have occurred as a consequence of the patients’ increasing age.

Conclusions

In conclusion, POAF is the most common arrhythmic condition that occurs after septal myectomy among patients with HOCM, and it significantly affects their early recovery and long-term prognoses. A lower preoperative eGFR correlated significantly with the risk and occurrence of POAF. The preoperative eGFR had a moderate ability to predict the occurrence of POAF. However, multicenter, prospective studies involving large numbers of patients are required to analyze and predict POAF among patients with HOCM after they have undergone septal myectomy.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.cn) for English language editing.

Funding: This work was supported by Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research (CFH 2020-2-4036), and clinical and translational medicine research fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019XK320054).

Footnote

Reporting Checklist: The authors have completed the STROBE reporting checklist. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd-20-3164

Data Sharing Statement: Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd-20-3164

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd-20-3164). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013). The study was approved by ethics board of Fuwai hospital (NO.: 20201315) and individual consent for this retrospective analysis was waived.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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