The use of hatch score for the prediction of post operative atrial fibrillation (poaf) after coronary artery bypass graft: a meta-analysis

Type of funding sources: None.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in post-cardiac surgery. It is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, thus portending a significant burden to patients and the health economy. A HATCH score is a handy tool in predicting new onset atrial fibrillation which consists of (Hypertension <1 point>, Age >75 years old <1 point>, transient ischemic attack or stroke <2 points>, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] <1 point>, and heart failure <2 points>. In this study, the authors aimed to determine the role of HATCH score in predicting the occurrence of post-operative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of three studies. The study included patients undergoing cardiac surgery and using HATCH score as a predicting tool for post-operative atrial fibrillation.

A total of 3 trials eligible for inclusion in our systematic review, giving a total of 908 participants. All three trials used the HATCH score to predict PoAF. The study was done retrospectively. The pooled RR’s showed an important risk for PoAF in patients with a HATCH score of 2 or more, indicating an approximately 2-fold greater risk (RR: 2.86 [95% CI 2.27-3.59], p = 0.00001.

This study investigated the development of PoAF with reference to the HATCH score. The study demonstrated a correlation of having a high HATCH score and PoAF who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery.