Atorvastatin and persistent atrial fibrillation following cardioversion: a randomized placebo-controlled multicentre study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of atorvastatin in achieving stable sinus rhythm (SR) 30 days after electrical cardioversion (CV) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).


RESULTS
The study included 234 patients. The patients were randomized to treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg daily (n = 118) or placebo (n = 116) in a prospective, double-blinded fashion. Treatment was initiated 14 days before CV and was continued 30 days after CV. The two groups were well-balanced with respect to baseline characteristics. Mean age was 65 +/- 10 years, 76% of the patients were male and 4% had ischaemic heart disease. Study medication was well-tolerated in all patients but one. Before primary endpoint 12 patients were excluded. In the atorvastatin group 99 patients (89%) converted to SR at electrical CV compared with 95 (86%) in the placebo group (P = 0.42). An intention-to-treat analysis with the available data, by randomization group, showed that 57 (51%) in the atorvastatin group and 47 (42%) in the placebo group were in SR 30 days after CV (OR 1.44, 95%CI 0.85-2.44, P = 0.18).


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin was not statistically superior to placebo with regards to maintaining SR 30 days after CV in patients with persistent AF.
Almroth
Henrik
H
Department of Cardiology, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. henrik.almroth@orebroll.se
Höglund
Niklas
N
Boman
Kurt
K
Englund
Anders
A
Jensen
Steen
S
Kjellman
Björn
B
Tornvall
Per
P
Rosenqvist
Mårten
M
D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin