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]