Statistical heterogeneity between included studies was not detected ( chi(2 ) = 1.68 , P = 0.43 , I(2 ) = 0 % ) , although significant clinical differences were found in terms of study design , patient population s , statins use and dosage and AF-monitoring capabilities .
Statins may represent a novel treatment strategy to prevent the occurrence of AF in patients with PM , especially for those who had a PM implanted due to sinus node dysfunction .
Patients with permanent pacemakers ( PM ) are at high risk of developing atrial fibrillation ( AF ) .
Minimal ventricular pacing modalities have been demonstrated to reduce AF in such patients , although they are not suitable for patients with advanced atrioventricular conduction disease .
Recent evidence s suggest that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors ( i.e. statins ) may represent a new strategy to prevent AF in patients at risk .
In this article , we sought to review data regarding the effectiveness of statin therapy in preventing AF patients with a PM .
Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation in pacemaker recipients: incidence, progression, and determinants based on the atrial high rate trial.
BACKGROUND The epidemiology and clinical implication s of asymptomatic atrial tachyarrhythmias ( AT ) including both atrial fibrillation and flutter in pacemaker recipients with and without arrhythmia history are not well understood . The Atrial High Rate Episodes ( A-HIRATE ) in Pacemaker Patients Trial was design ed to identify and compare the incidence of AT in patients with and without previously diagnosed AT and a st and ard indication for dual chamber pacing  , and to provide useful diagnostic information for clinical management . METHODS Four hundred twenty-seven patients were implanted with a pacemaker ( Kappa 7 - 900 , Medtronic , Inc. , Minneapolis , MN , USA ) capable of detecting and storing multiple atrial high rate episodes ( AHRE ) and followed for 2 years . Group I included 331 patients without prior history of AT and Group II included 96 patients with prior AT history . RESULTS Pacemaker diagnostics appropriately detected 93 % of review ed AHRE . The rate of occurrence of first AHRE was significantly higher ( P < 0.0001 ) in Group II patients , as was average AHRE burden . The rate of first AHRE occurrence was 88.6 % for patients in Group II and 53.8 % in Group I at 24 months post-implant . The rate of AHRE occurrence was similar in both groups after the first month post-implant . The majority of stored AHRE were asymptomatic ; symptoms did not correspond to an actual AHRE in most patients . CONCLUSIONS The incidence of AT in pacemaker recipients is high . Most device-detected AHRE are asymptomatic . Prior history of AT is associated with higher arrhythmia burden . AHRE diagnostics have a high positive predictive value for identifying AT events
Statistical heterogeneity between included studies was not detected ( chi(2 ) = 1.68 , P = 0.43 , I(2 ) = 0 % ) , although significant clinical differences were found in terms of study design , patient population s , statins use and dosage and AF-monitoring capabilities .
Statins may represent a novel treatment strategy to prevent the occurrence of AF in patients with PM , especially for those who had a PM implanted due to sinus node dysfunction .
Patients with permanent pacemakers ( PM ) are at high risk of developing atrial fibrillation ( AF ) .
Minimal ventricular pacing modalities have been demonstrated to reduce AF in such patients , although they are not suitable for patients with advanced atrioventricular conduction disease .
Recent evidence s suggest that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors ( i.e. statins ) may represent a new strategy to prevent AF in patients at risk .
In this article , we sought to review data regarding the effectiveness of statin therapy in preventing AF patients with a PM .