title: Effects of pitavastatin on cardiac structure and function and on prevention of atrial fibrillation in elderly hypertensive patients: a prospective study of 2-years' follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether statin therapy (pitavastatin) has a beneficial effect on the prevention of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in elderly patients with hypertension (HTN) and to evaluate the relationships among statin treatment, the development of AF, and left atrial (LA) and ventricular (LV) structure and function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled eligible elderly patients (≥65 years old) with HTN and LV hypertrophy until the number of patients reached 110 in both groups. The 110 patients with HTN who needed statin therapy (HTN with statin group) were started on pitavastatin (1-2 mg/day), and both groups continued with appropriate medication for HTN. LV and LA structure and function were examined by conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography at baseline and after 1 year. LA volume and function in the HTN with statin group improved more than in the HTN without statin group. There was a significant difference in survival free of new-onset AF in the patients with and without statin therapy during the 2-year follow-up (hazard ratio: 0.32, P=0.027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pitavastatin had a beneficial effect on LV diastolic function and LA structure and function in elderly patients with HTN. Pitavastatin treatment may be associated with a lower incidence of new-onset AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Gifu Prefectural General Medical Center, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warita
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Ryuhei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Tai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwama
authors.forename: Takatomo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishigaki
authors.forename: Genzou
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Sachiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minatoguchi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011804:Quinolines; C108475:pitavastatin