Association with Platelet Distribution Width and New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

Objective: The platelet distribution width (PDW) is one of the parameters of platelet activation. The PDW directly measures the variability in platelet size. However, there has been a limited number of data reported thus far on PDW and postoperative AF in patients undergoing CABG. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the PDW and postoperative AF in patients undergoing CABG. Methods: 124 consecutive patients with sinus rhythm who had undergone CABG between July 2011 and December 2013 were evaluated. AF was defined as any episode of AF lasting longer than 30 seconds. Complete blood count samples were analyzed according to the results obtained within 48 hours of the preoperative and postoperative period. Results: The preoperative PDW levels were significantly lower in patients who had developed AF than in the control group (56.5±14.8 vs. 50.9±10.0, p=0.015). There was no correlation between the postoperative PDW levels and AF. The preoperative white blood cell (WBC) and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were found to be similar between the two groups, while the postoperative WBC (13.9±5.7 vs. 10.5±3.6, p=0.000) and NLR (14.4±9.4 vs. 9.0±8.4, p: 0. 001) levels were higher in the group of patients who had AF. An NLR of 8.5 predicted post-CABG AF with a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 63%, and a WBC of 10 predicted post-CABG AF with a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 48%. Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that preoperative PDW level predicts new-onset AF after CABG, but suggest that other factors are also important.