Demographics and Preoperative Clinical History
The mean age at time of operation in this patient population was 60.1±10.1 years (table 1). The majority of patients (72%) were male, and all patients were White. Over the entire follow-up period, 24% of patients (36/150) had an ATA recurrence. There were no significant differences in age, sex, or preoperative BMI between groups by rhythm outcome (ATA freedom versus ever recurrence). There were also no significant differences between groups by rhythm outcome in rates of preoperative BMI ≥ 30, hyperlipidemia, peripheral vascular disease, prior cerebrovascular accident, CHA2DS2-VASc score, hypertension, history of cigarette smoking, chronic lung disease, or diabetes mellitus. No patient had preoperative renal failure. The majority of patients (77%, 134/174) had a CHA2DS2-VASc score greater than or equal to 2, i.e. a 2.9% or greater risk of stroke/transient ischemic attack/systemic embolism per year.[28]