Table 2. Characteristics of study design of included studies.
| Study | Design | EPA+DHA | EPA | DHA | EPA/DHA | Control | Treatment duration | Follow-up duration | Definition of POAF | POAF detection methods | POAF incidence in controls | Jadad Score |
| g/d | g/d | g/d | % | |||||||||
| Calo 2005 | R, OL | Oral: 1.74 | 0.58 | 1.16 | 0.5 | No treatment | At least 5 days before surgery until discharge | Until discharge | ECG confirmed AF (>5 min) or AF requiring intervention | Continuous monitoring at least 4 days after surgery; daily ECG | 33.3 | 3 |
| Heidt 2009 | R, DB, PC | IV: 3.49 | 1.65 | 1.84 | 0.9 | Free fatty acids | At least 0.5 day before surgery until leave ICU | Until leave ICU | ECG confirmed AF (>15 min) | Continuous monitoring and daily ECG | 30.0 | 3 |
| Saravanan 2010 | R, DB, PC | Oral: 1.72 | 0.94 | 0.78 | 1.2 | Olive oil | 17 days (median) before surgery until discharge | Until discharge | ECG confirmed AF (>0.5 min) | Continuous monitoring at least 5 days after surgery; daily ECG | 43.1 | 4 |
| Heidarsdottir 2010 | R, DB, PC | Oral: 2.24 | 1.24 | 1.00 | 1.2 | Olive oil | 6 days (median) before surgery until discharge or 14 days after surgery | Until discharge or 14 days after surgery | ECG confirmed AF (>5 min) | Continuous monitoring until discharge | 54.1 | 3 |
| Farquharson 2011 | R, DB, PC | Oral: 4.60 | 2.70 | 1.90 | 1.4 | Sunola | 21 days before surgery until discharge or 6 days after surgery | Until discharge or 6 days after surgery | ECG confirmed AF (>10 min) or AF requiring intervention | Continuous monitoring at least 3 days after surgery; daily ECG | 48.5 | 5 |
| Sorice 2011a 1 | R, OL | Oral: 1.74 | 0.58 | 1.16 | 0.5 | No treatment | 5 days before surgery until discharge | Until discharge | ECG confirmed AF (>5 min) or AF requiring intervention | Continuous monitoring at least 4 days after surgery; daily ECG | 12.5 | 2 |
| Sorice 2011b 1 | R, OL | Oral: 1.74 | 0.58 | 1.16 | 0.5 | No treatment | 5 days before surgery until discharge | Until discharge | ECG confirmed AF (>5 min) or AF requiring intervention | Continuous monitoring at least 4 days after surgery; daily ECG | 31.6 | 2 |
| Sandesara 2012 | R, DB, PC | Oral: 3.36(preop), 1.68(postop) | 1.07 | 0.86 | 1.24 | Corn oil | 2.5 days(median) before surgery until 14 days after surgery | Until 14 days after surgery | ECG confirmed AF requiring intervention | Continuous monitoring and daily ECG | 32.5 | 3 |
| Mozaffarian 2012 | R, DB, PC | Oral: 8.40/3∼5d or 6.72/2d (preop), 1.68(postop) | 1.03 | 0.83 | 1.24 | Olive oil | 2–5 days before surgery until discharge or 10 days after surgery | Until discharge or 10 days after surgery | ECG confirmed AF (>0.5 min) | Continuous monitoring at least 5 days after surgery; daily ECG | 30.7 | 5 |
1
The study by Sorice et al includes two randomized comparisons in patients who underwent off-pump or on-pump surgery. These two sets of data were analyzed separately in the meta-analysis, as Sorice 2011a and Sorice 2011b.
EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA, ducosahexaenoic acid; AF, atrial fibrillation; R, randomized; OL, open-label; DB, double-blind; PC, placebo-controlled; IV, intravenous; ICU, intensive care unit; ECG, electrocardiogram.