title: Do preoperative statins reduce atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have demonstrated that statins have pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammatory effects and atrial fibrillation (AF) preventive effects. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of preoperative statin therapy in preventing AF after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
  
  
  METHODS
  221 patients underwent CABG in our hospital from 2004 to 2007. 14 patients with preoperative AF and 4 patients with concomitant valve surgery were excluded from this study. Patients were divided into two groups to examine the influence of statins: those with preoperative statin therapy (Statin group, n = 77) and those without it (Non-statin group, n = 126). In addition, patients were divided into two groups to determine the independent predictors for postoperative AF: those with postoperative AF (AF group, n = 54) and those without it (Non-AF group, n = 149). Patient data were collected and analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of postoperative AF was 26%. Postoperative AF was significantly lower in the Statin group compared with the Non-statin group (16% versus 33%, p = 0.005). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that independent predictors of AF development after CABG were preoperative statin therapy (odds ratio [OR] 0.327, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.107 to 0.998, p = 0.05) and age (OR 1.058, 95% CI 1.004 to 1.116, p = 0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicated that preoperative statin therapy seems to reduce AF development after CABG.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hitachi General Hospital, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan. sakamotoh@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Sakamoto
authors: Yasunori
authors: Y
authors: Watanabe
authors: Masataka
authors: M
authors: Satou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors