[Effect of atorvastatin on postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of atorvastatin on postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).


METHODS
A cohort of 140 consecutive patients without a history of documented AF or previous statin use, who were scheduled to undergo selective CABG, were enrolled. Included patients were randomly assigned to atorvastatin group (n = 71) who were administered atorvastatin 20 mg/d or to control group (n = 69). After CABG, subjects were monitored continuously by electrocardiographic monitors at least 7 days. During the initial postoperative 7 d, the incidence and duration of AF were recorded. And the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured before and 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days after operation, respectively. The statistical software package SPSS (version 13.0) were used to analyze the data. The differences between groups were evaluated by chi(2)-test for discrete variables and student t-test for continuous variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent predictors of early postoperative AF.


RESULTS
During initial postoperative 7 d, AF occurred at least once in 10 cases in atorvastatin group, with a prevalence of roughly 14%, and in 23 cases in control group, with a prevalence of approximately 34% (P = 0.009). The mean duration of single AF was 3.6 +/- 0.4 hours in atorvastatin group and 5.7 +/- 0.5 hours in control group (P < 0.01), respectively. The multivariate logistic analysis showed that perioperative atorvastatin administration was an independently risk factor for early postoperative AF (OR = 0.219, 0.076-0.633, P = 0.005). There was also statistical difference in hs-CRP after CABG between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative atorvastatin administration may inhibit inflammatory reaction, reduce the incidence and duration of postoperative AF, hence may prevent and treat postoperative AF.
Department of Thoracic Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Yi-feng
YF
Sun
Yun-qing
YQ
Mei
Qiang
Q
Ji
Xi-sheng
XS
Wang
Jing
J
Feng
Jian-zhi
JZ
Cai
Yong-xin
YX
Zhou
Shi-liang
SL
Xie
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin