ASSA13-02-16 Atorvastatin Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Ablation to Maintain Sinus Rhythm

Abstract

Background There is little information available on the benefits of selection of statins as upstream therapy for the prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Objective The aim of this study was to investigate recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients who will take AF ablation after 7 days, randomised to treatment with atorvastatin 40mg/day or placebo 30.90 and 180 days. Methods We compared the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin (A-group, n = 51) and placebo (P-group, n = 50) as upstream therapy in patients with paroxysmal AF. A total of 101 patients (56 men, mean age, 65 ± 7 years) were retrospectively assigned to receive atorvastatin 7days before AF ablation (n = 51; 40 mg/day) or placebo (n = 50). Results Survival rates free from AF recurrence at 1, 3, and 6 months were 93%, 90% and 81% in A-group, and 88%, 73%, and 59%, respectively, in P-group (P = 0.005, A-group versus P-group). Using a logistic regression model, atorvastatin was found to be associated with a significantly reduced risk of AF recurrence in comparison to placebo (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.25, 95% confidence interval 0.12–0.45, P = 0.005). This association remained significant after adjustment for potentially confounding variables (OR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.10–0.56, P = 0.017) Adverse effects requiring discontinuation of statins were observed in 1 case (2%, myalgia) in A-group, and 1 case (2%, elevation in CPK level ≥ 500 IU/L) in P-group, respectively (P = NS, A-group versus P-group). Conclusions This randomised study supported that using atorvastatin 7 days before AF ablation was considered to be exactly effective in preventing recurrence of paroxysmal AF.