Statins Do Not Reduce Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Valvular Surgery: A Single Centre Observational Study

Introduction Statins may theoretically reduce postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients after cardiac valvular surgery due to preservation of endothelial function and anti-ischaemic, anti-inflammatory and anti-remodelling effects. Methods Two hundred seventy-two patients who underwent cardiac workup and subsequently cardiac valvular surgery without AF and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at our hospital were selected. Preoperative drug use and postoperative AF were recorded. AF was defined as any episode of AF longer than 10 s. In addition, results from echocardiography and blood samples were retrieved. Results Baseline characteristics were as follows: mean age was 65 +/- 11 years, 142 (52%) patients were male, 189 (70%) had undergone aortic valve surgery and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 57 +/- 12%. Statins were used by 79 patients (29%). Statin users, more often, had a prior percutaneous coronary intervention (25% vs 9%, p <0.001) or CABG (24% vs 4%, p <0.001), diabetes mellitus (22% vs 5%, p <0.001) and more often used beta-blockers (51% vs 24%, p