[Effect of atorvastatin on postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting]

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

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.

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.

Perioperative atorvastatin administration may inhibit inflammatory reaction, reduce the incidence and duration of postoperative AF, hence may prevent and treat postoperative AF.