Oxidative Stress in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Does Malondialdehyde Hold Predictive Value?

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication following cardiac surgery, associated with increased morbidity and prolonged hospital stays. Oxidative stress has been implicated in POAF pathogenesis, with malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker...

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Main Authors: Urska Intihar, Arta Krasniqi, Anze Djordjevic, Jan Zmazek, Harun Avdagic, Jus Ksela, Miha Antonic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Medicina
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/5/778
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author Urska Intihar
Arta Krasniqi
Anze Djordjevic
Jan Zmazek
Harun Avdagic
Jus Ksela
Miha Antonic
author_facet Urska Intihar
Arta Krasniqi
Anze Djordjevic
Jan Zmazek
Harun Avdagic
Jus Ksela
Miha Antonic
author_sort Urska Intihar
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication following cardiac surgery, associated with increased morbidity and prolonged hospital stays. Oxidative stress has been implicated in POAF pathogenesis, with malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, proposed as a potential biomarker. However, conflicting evidence exists regarding its predictive value. This study aimed to assess the association between serum MDA levels and POAF incidence in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: This prospective observational study included 99 consecutive patients undergoing elective on-pump cardiac surgery. Patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, or emergency surgery were excluded. Blood samples for MDA measurement were collected at six perioperative time points: preoperatively, intraoperatively after aortic clamp release, and at 8, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. Patients were monitored for new-onset POAF during the first three postoperative days. Statistical analyses included independent samples <i>t</i>-tests, Mann–Whitney U-tests, and Fisher’s exact tests, with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. <i>Results</i>: POAF occurred in 33 (33%) patients. Patients who developed POAF were significantly older (<i>p</i> = 0.017) and had higher EuroSCORE II values (<i>p</i> = 0.019). No significant differences were observed in serum MDA concentrations between POAF and non-POAF patients at any measured time point. The incidence of POAF was higher in patients undergoing valvular surgery (<i>p</i> = 0.014). <i>Conclusions</i>: Serum MDA levels were not associated with POAF development, suggesting that lipid peroxidation alone may not play a central role in POAF pathogenesis. These findings challenge the predictive value of MDA for POAF risk stratification. Future research should explore alternative oxidative stress markers and their potential therapeutic implications in POAF prevention.
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spelling doaj-art-0727f04ca8bf4aa6af55f03f431433912025-08-20T01:56:19ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-04-0161577810.3390/medicina61050778Oxidative Stress in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Does Malondialdehyde Hold Predictive Value?Urska Intihar0Arta Krasniqi1Anze Djordjevic2Jan Zmazek3Harun Avdagic4Jus Ksela5Miha Antonic6Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Ljubljanska 5, 2000 Maribor, SloveniaDepartment of Cardiac Surgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Ljubljanska 5, 2000 Maribor, SloveniaDepartment of Cardiac Surgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Ljubljanska 5, 2000 Maribor, SloveniaFaculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, SloveniaDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Centre Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Cardiac Surgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Ljubljanska 5, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication following cardiac surgery, associated with increased morbidity and prolonged hospital stays. Oxidative stress has been implicated in POAF pathogenesis, with malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, proposed as a potential biomarker. However, conflicting evidence exists regarding its predictive value. This study aimed to assess the association between serum MDA levels and POAF incidence in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: This prospective observational study included 99 consecutive patients undergoing elective on-pump cardiac surgery. Patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, or emergency surgery were excluded. Blood samples for MDA measurement were collected at six perioperative time points: preoperatively, intraoperatively after aortic clamp release, and at 8, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. Patients were monitored for new-onset POAF during the first three postoperative days. Statistical analyses included independent samples <i>t</i>-tests, Mann–Whitney U-tests, and Fisher’s exact tests, with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. <i>Results</i>: POAF occurred in 33 (33%) patients. Patients who developed POAF were significantly older (<i>p</i> = 0.017) and had higher EuroSCORE II values (<i>p</i> = 0.019). No significant differences were observed in serum MDA concentrations between POAF and non-POAF patients at any measured time point. The incidence of POAF was higher in patients undergoing valvular surgery (<i>p</i> = 0.014). <i>Conclusions</i>: Serum MDA levels were not associated with POAF development, suggesting that lipid peroxidation alone may not play a central role in POAF pathogenesis. These findings challenge the predictive value of MDA for POAF risk stratification. Future research should explore alternative oxidative stress markers and their potential therapeutic implications in POAF prevention.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/5/778postoperative atrial fibrillationoxidative stressmalondialdehydelipid peroxidationcardiac surgerybiomarker
spellingShingle Urska Intihar
Arta Krasniqi
Anze Djordjevic
Jan Zmazek
Harun Avdagic
Jus Ksela
Miha Antonic
Oxidative Stress in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Does Malondialdehyde Hold Predictive Value?
Medicina
postoperative atrial fibrillation
oxidative stress
malondialdehyde
lipid peroxidation
cardiac surgery
biomarker
title Oxidative Stress in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Does Malondialdehyde Hold Predictive Value?
title_full Oxidative Stress in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Does Malondialdehyde Hold Predictive Value?
title_fullStr Oxidative Stress in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Does Malondialdehyde Hold Predictive Value?
title_full_unstemmed Oxidative Stress in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Does Malondialdehyde Hold Predictive Value?
title_short Oxidative Stress in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Does Malondialdehyde Hold Predictive Value?
title_sort oxidative stress in postoperative atrial fibrillation does malondialdehyde hold predictive value
topic postoperative atrial fibrillation
oxidative stress
malondialdehyde
lipid peroxidation
cardiac surgery
biomarker
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/5/778
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