Vitamin C in prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft: double blind randomized clinical trial

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery. Vitamin C as an antioxidant has an important role in reducing the incidence of postop-erative atrial fibrillation. The present study aimed at administrating vitamin C as a way to reduce the incidence of post-CABG atrial fibrillation. Methods: In this double-blind, parallel clinical trial, 170 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent CABG surgery, by using a table of random numbers are di-vided into intervention and control groups to receive placebo or vitamin C. The clinical and surgical characteristics of the patients in the two groups were similar. The interven-tion group received 2 mg of vitamin C intravenously, the night before surgery. This drug followed by 500 mg, twice a day for five days after surgery. On the other hand patients in the control group received placebo (normal saline intravenously). After operation two groups were compared regarding Important outcomes such as postoperative arrhythmia, ICU stay and hospital stay. Results: One hundred eighteen men and fifty two women with a mean age of 59.1±9.8 years were enrolled in the study in two vitamin C and placebo groups (each consisting of 85 patients). The incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was 12.9% in the vita-min C group and 29.4% in the control group (P=0.009). ICU stay in the vitamin C group were 2.5±1.4 days versus 3.0±1.6 days in controls (P=0.035) and hospital stay in the vitamin C group were 6.6±1.5 days versus 8.2±2.3 days in controls (P