Early use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants after cardiac surgery compared with warfarin for postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Background: The introduction of non-vitamin-K-antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) has shifted the landscape of anticoagulation in the setting of atrial fibrillation (AF), as an alternative to warfarin. Despite extensive evidence for NOACs in non-perioperative and non-valvular AF, there remains little consensus on anticoagulation choice for patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study included 2263 patients who underwent cardiac surgery between 1 March 2016 and 13 January 2023 at a tertiary cardiac centre.