2.1. Patients

From April 2007 to January 2014, a prospective cohort of 300 and 12 patients, older than 18 years old and in normal sinus rhythm submitted to elective on‐pump cardiac surgery, was included in the study. Baseline clinical characteristics and laboratory tests, sVCAM‐1, high sensitivity C reactive protein (usCRP), leukocyte count, CHA₂DS₂‐VASc score, and two‐D echocardiograms were assessed before cardiac surgery. This study conforms to the Declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by our Ethics Committee at the school of medicine, Pontificia Unversidad Catolica de Chile. Written informed consent was obtained in all patients. This clinical study was registered in a public trials registry at FONDECYT 1141137 & 1 100 801 & 1 181 147 from the national agency for research development (ANID), Santiago, Chile).

The following exclusion criteria were applied: (a) nonelective cardiac surgery, (b) previous cardiac surgery, (c) combined valvular and coronary surgery, (d) rheumatic valve disease, (e) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the last 2 months, (f) cardiogenic shock at hospitalization, (g) history of malignancy, rheumatologic disease or any chronic inflammatory disease, (h) chronic steroidal treatment, (i) thyroid dysfunction, (j) evidence of active infection, and (k) history of paroxysmal or permanent AF.