Statins Linked to Reduced Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With ACS

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sept 13 - Patients presenting with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are less likely to develop new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) if they are being treated with a statin, study results suggest.

Dr. Maliha Zahid at the University of Pittsburgh and associates examined the medical records of patients with suspected ACS admitted to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Pittsburgh between 2001 and 2006. Their study cohort included 1,526 patients, of whom 138 had new onset of AF; 601 were on statins.

Patients on statins were significantly less likely to have new-onset AF (adjusted odds ratio 0.57, p <>

Their analyses also showed that renal failure and age over 65 years were significantly associated with increased risk of developing AF (OR 1.89 and 1.58, respectively). Factors that significantly reduced AF onset included chest pain (OR 0.35), non-Caucasian race (OR 0.61), diabetes (OR 0.67) and ACE inhibitor use (OR 0.63).

The investigators suggest that the reduced risk associated with diabetes "is potentially related to the fact that patients with diabetes receive more aggressive medical care and superior blood pressure control, specifically with ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, which decrease the incidence of AF."

In regards to the decreased risk of AF related to chest pain, they believe that clinicians are more likely to suspect ACS in the presence of chest pain, and therefore start treatment earlier.

Am J Cardiol 2007;100:404-405.