Association of Lipoprotein(a) With Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation

NCT07737444 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 128446
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 20
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

About one in three patients who undergo open-heart surgery develop an irregular heart rhythm called postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). This condition increases the risk of stroke, prolongs hospital stays, and raises the chances of complications and death compared with patients who do not develop it. Because of these serious outcomes, researchers are working to identify which patients are most at risk. One potential blood marker is lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). Higher levels of Lp(a) have been linked to abnormal heart rhythms in previous studies. We want to determine whether patients with elevated Lp(a) are more likely to develop POAF after heart surgery and better understand the biological mechanisms behind this risk. In this study, patients will be grouped based on whether they have high or low Lp(a) levels. All participants will wear a chest band monitor that continuously tracks heart rhythm for 3 months after surgery to detect POAF. During surgery, small tissue samples from the heart will also be collected. By examining these samples, we will assess whether patients with elevated Lp(a) show more scarring and inflammation which are two pathways known to cause abnormal heart rhythms. The goal of this study is to determine whether elevated Lp(a) increases susceptibility to POAF. This could help identify patients who may benefit from preventive treatments and closer monitoring. By understanding how Lp(a) affects heart tissue, we also hope to uncover the mechanisms that contribute to abnormal rhythm and guide the development of future targeted therapies to treat POAF and other heart rhythms.

Conditions

POAF; Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

Keywords

atrial fibrillation; Lp(a); Inflammation; Fibrosis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Lp(a) levels and POAF incidence

  To determine whether patients with elevated preoperative Lp(a) levels (≥125 nmol/L) have a higher incidence of POAF, as detected by 3 months of continuous ECG monitoring.

  3 months post-operation

• Lp(a) Levels and POAF Burden

  To determine whether patients with elevated preoperative Lp(a) levels (≥125 nmol/L) have a higher burden of POAF, defined as the total duration of AF episodes during the 3-month monitoring period.

  3 months post-operation

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• PAOF burden and atrial fibrosis and inflammation

  Tissue will be collected during surgery

• Lp(a) levels and atrial fibrosis and inflammation

  Tissue will be collected during surgery

• Lp(a) Levels and Serum Inflammatory Markers

  Blood will be collected at baseline, day 1 postoperative and day 30 pos-operative

Study Arms (1)

Patients undergoing elective and urgent cardiac surgery with no history of persistent AF.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients undergoing elective and urgent cardiac surgery with no history of persistent atrial fibrillation.

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥18 years Scheduled for elective or urgent CABG, valve replacement, or combined CABG and valve replacement Willing to wear the Skiin chest band for the duration of the study Have a smartphone with an Operating System compatible with the Skiin Connected Life App (Android 9+ or iOS 13+)

You may not qualify if:

• Emergency indication for CABG, valve replacement, or combined CABG and valve replacement Prior cardiac surgery History of pre-operative persistent atrial fibrillation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Anthony Tang: lead

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

Left atrial appendage and blood plasma

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation; Inflammation; Fibrosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor and Scientific Director

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 27, 2026
• First Posted: July 30, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Last Updated: July 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05