Cardiothoracic & vascular anaesthesia

Effect of colchicine on perioperative atrial fibrillation and myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery in patients undergoing major thoracic surgery (COP-AF): an international randomised trial

LancetPublished Randomised controlled trial

Authors' conclusion

In patients undergoing major non-cardiac thoracic surgery, administration of colchicine did not significantly reduce the incidence of clinically important atrial fibrillation or MINS but increased the risk of mostly benign non-infectious diarrhoea.

Study context

Population
Patients aged ≥55 years undergoing major non-cardiac thoracic surgery
Participants
3,209 patients
Comparison
Colchicine vs placebo
  • Colchicinen = 1,608
  • Placebon = 1,601reference
Primary endpoint
Coprimary: clinically important perioperative AF and MINS (myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery)
Follow-up
14 days
Methodological detailsplacebo-controlled, masked, multicentre (45 sites, 11 countries), stratified by centre
  • Placebo-controlled
  • Masked
  • Multicentre (45 sites, 11 countries)
  • Stratified by centre

Primary result

As reported in the abstract

Colchicine

Clinically important AF
103 (6.4%)
MINS
295 (18.3%)

Placebo

Clinically important AF
120 (7.5%)
MINS
325 (20.3%)

Clinically important AF

Colchicine103 (6.4%)
Placebo120 (7.5%)

MINS

Colchicine295 (18.3%)
Placebo325 (20.3%)
Colchicine vs PlaceboHazard ratio (95% CI)P value
Clinically important AF; ARR 1.1% (95% CI −0.7 to 2.8)
0.85(0.65–1.10)
P = 0.22
MINS; ARR 2.0% (−0.8 to 4.7)
0.89(0.76–1.05)
P = 0.16

Safety

OutcomeColchicinePlaceboHR (CI)
Sepsis or infection (composite)6.4%5.2%1.24 (0.93–1.66)
Non-infectious diarrhoeaEvents8.3%2.4%3.64 (2.54–5.22)

Original publication

Effect of colchicine on perioperative atrial fibrillation and myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery in patients undergoing major thoracic surgery (COP-AF): an international randomised trial. Lancet. Published 25 August 2023. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(23)01689-6

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