Atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery may lead to prolonged hospital stay and increased morbidity and mortality. Identifying people at risk may help in the management and improve the outcome of patients undergoing this procedure.

The aims of this were to determine the incidence of AF in patients who underwent CABG surgery in ManilaMed-Medical Center Manila and whether certain factors were associated with developing AF in patients who underwent the procedure.

This was a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study wherein adult patients who underwent CABG, without previous AF, were included.

Among patients included in the study, 29 developed AF, with an incidence of 27.62%. Patients who had AF after CABG were, on average, older (65.79 vs 59.29 years, P = 0.002); had dyslipidemia (72% vs 47%, P = 0.021), a higher average left atrial volume index (LAVI) (26.72 vs. 23.45, P = 0.038), an LAVI greater than 34 mL/m2 (24% vs 3%, P = 0.002), and an episode of previous stroke (28% vs 11%, P = 0.038); and had been taking diuretics (28% vs 9%, P = 0.027) but had a lower prevalence of having diabetes (41% vs 66%, P = 0.023).

Atrial fibrillation remains to be a frequent arrhythmia after CABG occurring in 28% of patients who had CABG. It may occur in older patients, patients with dyslipidemia, patients with a large left atrium, patients who had a previous stroke, and patients taking diuretics. On the other hand, the odds of a diabetic patient developing AF after CABG are low.