The Relationship between Serum Magnesium Level and Atrial Fibrillation Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Atrial fibrillation is a supraventricular arrhythmia, and is one of the most common complication after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum magnesium level and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation after CABG in patients referred to Bu-Ali Sina hospital in Qazvin, Iran.

137 patients who were candidates for CABG surgery were included in this observational study. Demographic information and medical records were recorded for patients. Patients were monitored for three days, and their serum magnesium levels were assessed daily. Patients were divided into hypomagnesium and normomagnesium groups based on the presence or absence of hypomagnesemia in the surgery day and the first to third day after surgery. Patients were monitored for cardiac arrhythmias, and if necessary, magnesium sulfate injection and its dose were recorded. Finally, the data obtained from the study were analyzed using SPSS software.

Serum magnesium level was significantly different between the two groups before and on the day of surgery, and one to three days after surgery at all study intervals. The difference between the two groups in terms of atrial fibrillation incidence was not statistically significant (P = 0.797); but there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of atrial fibrillation incidence time (P = 0.014).

The role of magnesium in incidence of atrial fibrillation after CABG surgery is still unclear, and further studies are needed.