Characterization of Post Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Atrial Fibrillation Patterns (CABG-AF):A Feasibility Study

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According to current literature the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the early phase after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) lies at ~ 29 %. Studies which have investigated this issue fail to provide valid data due to the use of intermittent rhythm detection methods (Holter). It has previously been shown that up to 48 % of AF recurrence is not detected using such methods. We thus hypothesize that the incidence of AF is severely underestimated in this patient population. In the CABG-AF study we aim to determine the “true” AF incidence in the first 6 months after CABG using a continuous rhythm monitoring strategy (sensitivity of >96 %). Insertable Cardiac Monitors will be implanted at the end of CABG and data will be collected continuously for 6 months. The data collected will provide insights on the primary endpoint: incidence of AF, as well as further secondary endpoints such as AF burden and density. The complete CABG-AF study will include a total of 320 patients and follow these patients for up to 3 years; the current proposal aims to secure funding for a pilot study involving 25 patients with 6 months of data collection. The pilot study will take 1 year until completion and has the goal of demonstrating the feasibility of the methodology, providing preliminary results and developing study infrastructure. At the end of the CABG-AF trial we expect to provide results which will influence guidelines on rhythm management after CABG.