• Shaojie Chen, Willem-Jan Acou, Marcio G Kiuchi, Christian Meyer, Philipp Sommer, Martin Martinek, Alexandra Schratter, Bruno R Andrea, Zhiyu Ling, Shaowen Liu, Yuehui Yin, Gerhard Hindricks, Helmut Pürerfellner, Mitchell W Krucoff, Boris Schmidt, and Chun K R Julian KRJ Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Frankfurt Academy for Arrhythmias, Medizinische Klinik III, Agaplesion Markus Krankenhaus, Frankfurt am Main, .
• Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Frankfurt Academy for Arrhythmias, Medizinische Klinik III, Agaplesion Markus Krankenhaus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
• JAMA Netw Open. 2019 May 3; 2 (5): e194934.

ImportancePostoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a well-known complication after cardiac surgery. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASIs) have been suggested as an upstream therapy for selected patients with AF; however, evidence in the surgical setting is limited.ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of preoperative RASIs in prevention of POAF and adverse events for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.Data SourcesThe PubMed database and the Cochrane Library from inception until December 31, 2018, were searched by using the keywords renin-angiotensin system inhibitors OR angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors OR angiotensin receptor blocker OR aldosterone antagonist AND cardiac surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched from inception until December 31, 2018, by using the keywords postoperative atrial fibrillation.Study SelectionRandomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing the association between preoperative RASI treatment vs no preoperative RASI treatment (control group) and the incidence of POAF were identified. Eleven unique studies met the selection criteria.Data Extraction And SynthesisPooled analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses of RCTs were performed to test the stability of the overall effect. Metaregression was conducted to explore potential risk of bias.Main Outcomes And MeasuresThe primary outcome was POAF, and the secondary outcomes included rates of stroke and mortality and duration of hospitalization.ResultsEleven unique studies involving 27 885 unique patients (74.4% male; median age, 65 years [range, 58.5-74.5 years]) were included. Compared with the control group, the RASI group did not have a significantly reduced risk of POAF (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% CI, 0.91-1.19; P = .55; z = 0.60), stroke (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.62-1.19; P = .37; z = 0.90; without significant heterogeneity, P = .11), death (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.85-1.35; P = .56; z = 0.59; without significant heterogeneity, P = .12), composite adverse cardiac events (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.91-1.18; P = .58; z = 0.56), or a reduced hospital stay (weighted mean difference, -0.04; 95% CI, -1.05 to 0.98; P = .94; z = 0.07) using a random-effects model. Pooled analysis focusing on RCTs showed consistent results. The primary overall effect was maintained in sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Metaregression showed that male sex was significantly associated with POAF (τ2 = 0.0065; z = 3.47; Q = 12.047; P < .001) and that use of β-blockers was associated with a significantly reduced risk in developing POAF (τ2 = 0.018; z = -2.24; Q = 5.0091; P = .03).Conclusions And RelevanceThe findings from this study suggest that preoperative RASI treatment does not offer additional benefit in reducing the risk of POAF, stroke, death, and hospitalization in the setting of cardiac surgery. The results provide no support for conventional use of RASIs for the possible prevention of POAF and adverse events in patients undergoing cardiac surgery; further randomized data, particularly among those patients with heart failure, are needed.

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