Statin use before by-pass surgery decreases the incidence and shortens the duration of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

The aim of the present observational study is to search the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with or without preoperative statin treatment. The population consisted of 362 consecutive patients (267 on and 95 not on statin). Diabetes mellitus was more frequent in statin group (p = 0.03). Other demographic and procedural variables were similar in the both groups (All p > 0.05). Postoperative AF was less frequent and its duration was shorter in statin group compared to non-statin group (p = 0.03 and 0.0001, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the protective effect of statins against the risk of developing AF (p = 0.01). Statin treatment before the by-pass surgery decreases the incidence and shortens the duration of postoperative AF. Copyright 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.