Association of Lipoprotein(a) With Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation

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.

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Key information

Conditions

POAF Arrhythmias, Cardiac Atrial Fibrillation Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Cardiovascular Diseases Fibrosis Heart Diseases Inflammation Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

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+)

Exclusion criteria

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

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Lp(a) levels and POAF incidence

Time frame: 3 months post-operation

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.
Lp(a) Levels and POAF Burden

Time frame: 3 months post-operation

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.

Secondary outcomes

PAOF burden and atrial fibrosis and inflammation

Time frame: Tissue will be collected during surgery

To evaluate whether patients with increased incidence and burden of POAF have increased atrial fibrosis and inflammation, as measured by histological and transcriptional markers.
Lp(a) levels and atrial fibrosis and inflammation

Time frame: Tissue will be collected during surgery

To evaluate whether patients with elevated pre-operative Lp(a) levels (≥125 nmol/L) have increased incidence and burden of POAF and increased atrial fibrosis and inflammation, as measured by histological and transcriptional markers.
Lp(a) Levels and Serum Inflammatory Markers

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

To evaluate whether patients with elevated pre-operative Lp(a) levels (≥125 nmol/L) have increased serum inflammatory cytokine levels, as measured by ELISA.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Anthony Tang

Other

Registry information

Acronym: LPa and POAF

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2028
Study completion: 2028
First posted: Jul 30, 2026
Registry last updated: Jul 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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