title: Statin therapy shortens QTc, QTcd, and improves cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure.
abstract: Although some data suggest that statins can improve cardiac mechanical function in some patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), the effects of long-term statin therapy on cardiac electrical instability remain unclear. We performed a randomized perspective analysis of the effects of 10 mg/d (statin group 1, n=40), 20 mg/d (statin group 2, n=38) of atorvastatin and controls (control group, n=41) on corrected QT intervals (QTc), corrected QT dispersion (QTcd) and cardiac function in patients with CHF secondary to coronary artery disease (CAD) for one year. At 6 and 12 months, the statin groups displayed lower QTc and QTcd compared with controls. The changes were becoming more distinct in statin group 2, (P<0.05). In statin groups, the changes of QTc and QTcd were independent of changes of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol levels, and the decrease of QTcd was correlated with the increase of LVEF within 12 months. Atorvastatin shortens QTc, QTcd and improves cardiac function, and might thereby be parts of the mechanisms which atorvastatin benefited CHF patients secondary to CAD.
authors.forename: Rui-qin
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei-na
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Jing-chao
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin