Vitamin D Supplementation to Reduce Post-CABG Atrial Fibrillation

In a recent study, published in the Journal of Cardiac Surgery, lead author, Azita H. Talasaz, and colleagues determined that vitamin D supplementation appeared to reduce the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation and the duration of intensive care unit (ICU) or hospital stay in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.

Vitamin D Supplementation Prior to CABG

The trial randomized 196 patients with vitamin D insufficiencies—defined as 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH) D) under 30 ng/ml—to a control group (n = 103), which received the general standard of care, or a study group (n = 93), which received the same standard of care plus oral vitamin D supplementation five days before CABG. The primary outcome was the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation in the first 5 days after surgery.

According to the researchers, the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was significantly lower in the vitamin D supplementation group compared to the control group at 9.68% versus 20.39%, respectively (p =.038). As mentioned, the study group also had reduced lengths of ICU and hospital stays compared to the control group, at 2.21 versus 3.86 days (p <.001) and 7.40 versus 9.58 days (p =.022), respectively.

The study was conducted on the basis that patients with vitamin D deficiencies exhibit an increased prevalence of postoperative atrial fibrillation. Ultimately, the researchers’ findings supported the potential value of vitamin D supplementation to reduce the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation and duration of inpatient stays.

Find more atrial fibrillation research at the Atrial Fibrillation Knowledge Hub.