The Role of Statin Therapy in the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The Role of Statin Therapy in the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

AuthorsFang WT, et al. Show all Journal
Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2012 Feb 29. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04258.x. [Epub ahead of print]

Affiliation
Department of Pharmacy, The first affiliated hospital with nanjing medical university, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; 210029; Department of Pharmacy, Qianfoshan Hospital of Shandong Province, Jinan, Shandong, PR China, 250014;

Abstract
Aims:  To examine whether statins can reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Background:  The use of statins had been suggested to protect against AF in some clinical observational and experimental studies but has remained inadequately explored. Methods:  Meta analysis of randomized, controlled trials with use of statins on incidence or recurrence of AF was performed. Results:  20 studies with 23577 patients were included in the analysis. 7 studies investigated the use of statins in patients with AF, 11 studies investigated the primary prevention of statins in patients without AF, and 2 studies investigated mix population patients. Incidence or recurrence of AF occurred in 1543 patients. Overall, statins therapy was significantly associated with a decreased risk of AF compared with control (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.65, p <0.00001). Beneficial effect was found in atorvastatin subgroup and simvastatin subgroup, but not found in pravastatin subgroup and rosuvastatin subgroup. Benefit of statin therapy seemed more markedly in secondary prevention (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.64, p<0.0008) than primary prevention (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.74, p< 0.0001). Conclusions:  Statin therapy was significantly associated with a decreased risk of incidence or recurrence of AF. Heterogeneity was explained by differences in statin types, patient population and surgery types. Benefit of statin therapy seemed more markedly in secondary prevention than primary prevention. © 2012 The Authors. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology © 2012 The British Pharmacological Society.

© 2012 The Authors. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology © 2012 The British Pharmacological Society.