title: The effects of atorvastatin on the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is still the most common arrhythmic complication. This study evaluated whether pretreatment with atorvastatin protects against AF after off-pump CABG.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-four patients without a history of AF or previous statin use, who were scheduled to undergo elective off-pump CABG, were enrolled. Patients were randomized to control group (n = 62) or to atorvastatin group (n = 62) who were administered atorvastatin 20 mg/d for 3 days before the surgery. Primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative AF. Secondary outcomes were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, persistent AF at 1 month, and identification of the markers to predict inhospital postoperative AF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of AF was significantly lower in the atorvastatin group than in the control group (13% vs 27%, P = .04). The incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and persistent AF at 1 month was similar in comparisons between the groups. Postoperative peak N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher in the patients with AF (P = .03). Multivariate analysis identified pretreatment with atorvastatin as an independent factor associated with a significant reduction in postoperative AF (odds ratio 0.34, P = .04). Higher postoperative peak N-terminus pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels were associated with the development of postoperative AF (odds ratio 1.02 per 100 pg/mL, P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment with atorvastatin significantly reduced the occurrence of postoperative AF after off-pump CABG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Young Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: On
authors.forename: Jun Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae-Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: June Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jidong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wook Sung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Tak
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D047549:Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011758:Pyrroles; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin