[Efficacy of Statin Therapy in the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation in Early Postoperative Period after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting].

Background: The incidence of the postoperative atrialfibrillation (POAF) after open heart surgery is up to 65%. Statin therapy has shown conflicting data in the prevention of the POAF.

Objective: Our aim was eo evaluate the role of statin therapy in the primary prevention of AF after CABG.

Methods: Group 1 (n = 82) included those patients who received no statin therapy and the Group 2 (n = 124) included those patients who did receive statin therapy for at least three days prior to the operation and for all days in the postoperative period. WBC count in different periods after surgery and rate of AF were evaluated. The risk of occurrence of postoperative AF was evaluated using the Cox-regression model and odds ratio.

Results: A retrospective analysis of 206 medical records of the patients without pre-existing AF after CABG was performed. The rate of AF was 26% in Group 1 and 6.5 % in Group 2 (p = 0.0001). On Day 4 after surgery, WBC count was 11 (9;13) in the first group and 9 (7.6;10.2) x 10(9) e/L in the second group (p = 0.000001). "Statin use" and "number of grafts" and were found to be statistically meaningful: p = 0.002 and p = 0.0125 respectively (χ2 = 28.3; p < 0.001). In accordance with the Cox model of regression, the risk of AF was 0.201 for "statin use"; and 2.099 for "number of grafts". Odds ratio was 0.2 (95% CI 0.08-0.5).

Conclusion: Statin therapy prior to and after GABG wasfound to be an effective method of primary prevention of AF in the early postoperative period.