Data from different observational trials have shown that treatment with statins significantly reduces the incidence of new-onset AF in the primary and secondary prevention .
The data are insufficient to recommend the use of statins before EC .
Finally , perioperative statin therapy may represent an important non-antiarrhythmic adjunctive therapeutic strategy for the prevention of postoperative AF
The aim of the present systematic review is to present an overview of the evidence linking atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , inflammation and oxidative stress , with emphasis on the potential of statins to decrease the incidence of different types of AF , including new-onset AF , after electrical cardioversion ( EC ) and after cardiac surgery .
Observational and clinical trials have studied the impact of statin therapy on new-onset , post-EC or postoperative AF .
Statin use is associated with a reduction in atrial fibrillation after noncardiac thoracic surgery independent of C-reactive protein.
STUDY OBJECTIVES The level of C-reactive protein ( CRP ) has been shown to be elevated in patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter ( AF ) unrelated to surgery , and statins are known to lower the CRP level . To determine whether an elevated CRP level predisposes the patient to postoperative AF and whether statin use is associated with a reduced AF incidence , we studied a consecutive group of patients who were at risk for AF after undergoing thoracic surgery ( age , > or = 60 years ) . DESIGN AND SETTING A prospect i ve study in a tertiary care cancer center of 131 patients ( mean [ + /- SD ] age , 73 + /- 6 years ) who had undergone major lung or esophageal resection .  High-sensitivity CRP and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were measured before surgery , on arrival at the postanesthesia care unit , and on the first morning after surgery . Continuous telemetry was used for 72 to 96 h to detect AF . RESULTS AF occurred in 38 of 131 patients ( 29 % ) at a median time after surgery of 3 days . Although CRP and IL-6 levels increased significantly ( p < 0.001 ) in response to surgery , patients with or without AF did not differ in perioperative values . In a stepwise logistic regression , statin use was associated with a threefold decrease in the odds of developing AF ( odds ratio [ OR ] , 0.26 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 0.08 to 0.82 ; p = 0.022 ) and a greater PR interval ( OR , 1.11 per 5-ms increments ; 95 % CI , 1.01 to 1.22 ; p = 0.027 ) predicted an increase in the risk of AF . CONCLUSIONS The preoperative use of statins was associated with a protective effect against postoperative AF independent of CRP levels . In contrast to AF in the general population , early markers of inflammation did not predict the postoperative occurrence of AF
Data from different observational trials have shown that treatment with statins significantly reduces the incidence of new-onset AF in the primary and secondary prevention .
The data are insufficient to recommend the use of statins before EC .
Finally , perioperative statin therapy may represent an important non-antiarrhythmic adjunctive therapeutic strategy for the prevention of postoperative AF
The aim of the present systematic review is to present an overview of the evidence linking atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , inflammation and oxidative stress , with emphasis on the potential of statins to decrease the incidence of different types of AF , including new-onset AF , after electrical cardioversion ( EC ) and after cardiac surgery .
Observational and clinical trials have studied the impact of statin therapy on new-onset , post-EC or postoperative AF .