Increased N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level predicts atrial fibrillation after surgery for esophageal carcinoma

Table 1 Characteristics of study subjects, n (%)

Characteristic	No postoperative AF (n = 131)	Postoperative AF (n = 11)	P
Age (yr)	63.4 ± 13.3	69.6 ± 12.2	0.031
Male	109 (83.2)	9 (81.8)	0.971
COPD	16 (12.2)	5 (45.5)	0.021
History of cardiac diseases	9 (6.9)	3 (27.3)	0.046
History of hypertension	8 (6.1)	1 (9.1)	0.717
Diabetes mellitus	7 (5.3)	1 (9.1)	0.63
Site of anastomosis
Neck	28 (21.4)	3 (27.3)	0.721
Above the aortic arch	81 (61.8)	6 (54.5)	0.812
Below the aortic arch	22 (16.8)	2 (18.2)	0.921
Right thorax approach	12 (9.2)	1 (9.1)	0.994
Intraoperative hypotension	9 (6.9)	1 (9.1)	0.798
Postoperative fever	29 (22.1)	3 (27.3)	0.76
Postoperative hypoxia	11 (8.4)	4 (36.4)	0.018
Thoracic–gastric dilatation	16 (12.2)	5 (45.5)	0.021
NT-proBNP, pg/mL
Before surgery	121.3 ± 18.3	396.1 ± 42.6	0.016
After surgery	160.3 ± 17.3	589.5 ± 51.2	0.009