# Risk factors for atrial fibrillation after lung cancer surgery: a meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This study identifies risk factors for atrial fibrillation after lung cancer surgery, including age, smoking, and hypertension, using a meta-analysis of 20,701 patients.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive meta-analysis of risk factors for postoperative atrial fibrillation in lung cancer patients.

## Key findings

- Age over 65 years significantly increases the risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation.
- Male gender, smoking, and hypertension are associated with higher AF risk after lung cancer surgery.
- Postoperative high BNP levels and blood transfusion are also linked to increased AF risk.

## Abstract

This study aims to explore potential risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) following lung cancer surgery through a meta-analysis.

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify all relevant studies on postoperative AF following lung cancer surgery. Inclusion criteria specified adult patients with lung cancer surgery who had clearly reported risk factors for AF. The search was conducted up to October 20, 2025. The quality of included studies was assessed using the standardized NOS scoring tool, and statistical analysis was performed using Stata 15. Data from all included studies were analyzed using a random-effects model.

A total of 13 articles involving 20,701 lung cancer patients were included. The meta-analysis results suggest that age >65[OR = 1.68, 95% CI (1.30, 2.16)], Postoperative high BNP [OR = 3.82, 95% CI (1.43, 10.25)], male [OR = 1.82, 95% CI (1.35, 2.45)], smoking [OR = 1.72, 95% CI (1.35, 2.21)], hypertension [OR = 1.63, 95% CI (1.08, 2.48)], patients with TNM stage II lung cancer [OR = 2.21, 95% CI (1.22, 4.01)], transfusion [OR = 3.74, 95% CI (2.28, 6.12)] were associated with an increased risk of postoperative AF after lung cancer surgery.

This study suggesting that factors such as age >65 years, male gender, smoking, hypertension, elevated postoperative BNP levels, TNM stage II, and perioperative blood transfusion may be associated with an increased risk of postoperative AF in lung cancer patients.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251176315, Prospero CRD420251176315.