Effects of different doses of glucocorticoids on postoperative atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery, and its occurrence is closely related to inflammation. This paper intends to apply meta-analysis to investigate the effect of glucocorticoids on POAF. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched using the internationally recognized systematic evaluation and retrieval strategy. Two review authors independently selected relevant studies and extracted data based on the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions approach. Stata 17 was used for data analysis. In the subgroup analysis, we grouped the participant data according to differences in glucocorticoids dose and type of surgery. At the same time, we also conducted a meta-analysis on the possible infection and gastrointestinal injury caused by glucocorticoids use. RESULTS: 27 studies and 14,442 patients were finally included. Results from the random-effects model indicated that the incidence of POAF was lower in glucocorticoid group (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.71–0.92, P = 0.001). According to the subgroup analysis result, low doses of glucocorticoids reduced the incidence of POAF (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.71–0.92, P = 0.001). The effect of high doses glucocorticoids on the POAF was not statistically significant (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.56–1.19, P = 0.286). In the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) subgroup, the glucocorticoids reduced the incidence of POAF (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.58–0.87, P = 0.001). In the CABG OR Valvular Surgery group, the effect of glucocorticoids on POAF was not statistically significant (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.75–1.03, P = 0.108). 15 studies documented postoperative complications of infection, two studies were excluded from the system because the end point event was 0, and meta-analysis showed no increased risk of infection from glucocorticoid use (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.68–1.06, P = 0.158). Eight studies documented the effects of glucocorticoids on gastrointestinal diseases, and meta-analysis showed no differences between the two groups (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.83–1.50, P = 0.450). CONCLUSION: The use of glucocorticoids can reduce the incidence of POAF. The subgroup analysis result showed that low-dose glucocorticoids were more effective than high-dose glucocorticoids in inhibiting POAF. The use of glucocorticoids in CABG alone can better inhibit the occurrence of POAF. The effects of glucocorticoids on infection and gastrointestinal injury were not statistically significant. Review registration: PROSPERO, CRD42022304521. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-022-03001-0.