Atorvastatin 80 mg daily was not statistically superior to placebo for maintaining sinus rhythm 30 days after electrical cardioversion in patients with persistent AF (51% vs 42%; OR 1.44; P=0.18).
RCT (n=234)
double-blinded
randomized
Yes
Does atorvastatin improve the maintenance of stable sinus rhythm 30 days after electrical cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation?
Atorvastatin 80 mg daily initiated before cardioversion did not significantly improve the maintenance of sinus rhythm at 30 days in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
Effect estimate: OR 1.44 (95% CI 0.85-2.44)
Absolute Event Rate: 51% vs 42%
p-value: p=0.18
AIMS: To evaluate the effect of atorvastatin in achieving stable sinus rhythm (SR) 30 days after electrical cardioversion (CV) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 234 patients. The patients were randomized to treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg daily (n = 118) or placebo (n = 116) in a prospective, double-blinded fashion. Treatment was initiated 14 days before CV and was continued 30 days after CV. The two groups were well-balanced with respect to baseline characteristics. Mean age was 65 +/- 10 years, 76% of the patients were male and 4% had ischaemic heart disease. Study medication was well-tolerated in all patients but one. Before primary endpoint 12 patients were excluded. In the atorvastatin group 99 patients (89%) converted to SR at electrical CV compared with 95 (86%) in the placebo group (P = 0.42). An intention-to-treat analysis with the available data, by randomization group, showed that 57 (51%) in the atorvastatin group and 47 (42%) in the placebo group were in SR 30 days after CV (OR 1.44, 95%CI 0.85-2.44, P = 0.18). CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin was not statistically superior to placebo with regards to maintaining SR 30 days after CV in patients with persistent AF.
Almroth et al. (Tue,) conducted a rct in persistent atrial fibrillation (n=234). atorvastatin vs. placebo was evaluated on stable sinus rhythm (SR) 30 days after electrical cardioversion (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.85-2.44, p=0.18). Atorvastatin 80 mg daily was not statistically superior to placebo for maintaining sinus rhythm 30 days after electrical cardioversion in patients with persistent AF (51% vs 42%; OR 1.44; P=0.18).