Preoperative statin therapy was associated with a 44% reduction in overall postoperative mortality (2.2% vs. 3.2%; P=0.0001) across cardiac, vascular, and noncardiac surgeries.
Meta-Analysis (n=223,010)
Does preoperative statin therapy reduce postoperative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing cardiac, vascular, or noncardiovascular surgery?
Preoperative statin therapy is associated with a significant reduction in postoperative mortality across cardiac, vascular, and noncardiac surgeries.
Effect estimate: 44% reduction
Absolute Event Rate: 2.2% vs 3.2%
p-value: p=0.0001
Statin therapy is well established for prevention of cardiovascular disease. Statins may also reduce postoperative mortality and morbidity via a pleiotropic (non-lipid-lowering) effect. The authors conducted a meta-analysis to determine the influence of statin treatment on adverse postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac, vascular, or noncardiovascular surgery. Two independent authors abstracted data from 12 retrospective and 3 prospective trials (n = 223,010 patients). A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the overall effect of preoperative statin therapy on postoperative outcomes. Preoperative statin therapy was associated with 38% and 59% reduction in the risk of mortality after cardiac (1.9% vs. 3.1%; P = 0.0001) and vascular (1.7% vs. 6.1%; P = 0.0001) surgery, respectively. When including noncardiac surgery, a 44% reduction in mortality (2.2% vs. 3.2%; P = 0.0001) was observed. Preoperative statin therapy may reduce postoperative mortality in patients undergoing surgical procedures. However, the statin associated effects on postoperative cardiovascular morbidity are too variable to draw any conclusion.
Hindler et al. (Sat,) conducted a meta-analysis in Cardiac, vascular, or noncardiovascular surgery (n=223,010). Preoperative statin therapy vs. No preoperative statin therapy was evaluated on Postoperative mortality (44% reduction, p=0.0001). Preoperative statin therapy was associated with a 44% reduction in overall postoperative mortality (2.2% vs. 3.2%; P=0.0001) across cardiac, vascular, and noncardiac surgeries.