title: Pravastatin treatment before coronary artery bypass grafting for reduction of postoperative atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this observational study was to determine the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with or without preoperative pravastatin treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2005 and December 2007, a total of 195 patients (39 women, mean age 66.5 +/- 10.2 years) who underwent CABG only were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into three groups: nonstatin group (n = 111), atorvastatin group (n = 63), pravastatin group (n = 21). The endpoint of the study was the occurrence of new-onset AF during the first 14 days after CABG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative AF was less frequent in the pravastatin group (9.5%, 2/21 patients) than in the nonstatin group (34.2%, 38/111 patients; P = 0.0025) and the atorvastatin group (34.9%, 22/63 patients; P = 0.0257). C-reactive protein levels were lower in the pravastatin group 72 h after surgery (nonstatin vs. pravastatin, P = 0.0180; atorvastatin vs. pravastatin, P = 0.0383). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the protective effect of pravastatin against the risk of developing AF (nonstatin vs. pravastatin, P = 0.0369; atorvastatin vs. pravastatin, P = 0.0378). Multivariable analysis showed that pravastatin treatment conferred a reduced risk of AF (odds ratio 0.22, 95% confidence interval 0.05-0.92, P = 0.0172).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pravastatin treatment before CABG may decrease the incidence of postoperative AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan. hiro.tsrg@tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Hirokuni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Fusahiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Someya
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ushiyama
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyagi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; 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; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin