Table 2

Follow-up and AF detection in randomised controlled studies in the meta-analysis

Author (study) year (ref no)	Follow-up period	Definition of AF	Methods of AF detection	Rate of AF in control group	Power	δ (% risk reduction)
Calo et al 200520	During hospitalisation	Postoperative inhospital AF >5 min or requiring intervention	Continuous monitoring at least 4–5 days after the operation; ECG daily until discharge; AF endpoint adjudicated by a blinded external committee	33.3%	0.8	43
Erdogan et al 2007^* 24	52 Weeks	Recurrent AF	Clinical examination with ECG after 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year or at any point of occurrence of symptoms	85.2%	0.8	15
Margos et al 2007^* 27	6 Months	Recurrent AF	24 h Holter at 1 month, ECG at 1, 3 and 6 months	40%	NA	NA
Heidt et al 200921	During ICU	Postoperative inhospital AF ≥15 min	Continuous monitoring and ECG daily until transfer from the ICU to a normal ward	30%	0.8	33
Heidarsdottir et al 201022	During hospitalisation	Postoperative inhospital AF ≥5 min	Continuous monitoring until discharge	54.1%	0.8	50
Saravanan et al 201023	5 Days	Postoperative inhospital AF ≥30 s	Continuous monitoring at least 5 days after the operation; then ECG daily until discharge; AF endpoint adjudicated by a blinded external committee	43.1%	0.8	55
Sandesara et al 2010^* 26	14 Days	Postoperative clinically significant AF or atrial flutter documented by rhythm strip or ECG and requiring treatment	Continuous monitoring and ECG; AF endpoint adjudicated by a blinded external committee	33%	0.9	54
Bianconi et al 201025	6 Months	Recurrent AF	Trans-telephonic monitoring three times during first week and then twice a week until the 3 month follow-up and ECG at 48–72 h, 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months AF endpoint adjudicated by the blinded investigators	51.1%	0.8	30
Nodari et al 2010^* 28	1 Year	Recurrent AF	ECG and 24-h Holter at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months	63%	NA	NA
Kowey et al 201029	6 Months	Recurrent AF	Trans-telephonic monitoring every 2 weeks; AF endpoint adjudicated by the blinded investigators	46%	0.9	32

↵* Abstract only.
AF, atrial fibrillation; ICU, intensive care unit; δ, the minimum detectable difference the study was powered to detect.