Statin Use Reduces Cardiac Surgery Complications

Statin use both before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery could reduce complications and risk of death, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic (CC; OH, USA) and the University of Florida (UF; Gainesville, USA) conducted a literature review to examine statin use both before and after CABG surgery to evaluate the impact on patient outcomes of continuing or stopping drug use prior to surgery. The researchers reviewed all related articles in the Medline database through July 2015, and weighed the evidence regarding the incidence of statin-related adverse effects in this setting.

The researchers found that statin use prior to CABG surgery may help protect patients from developing atrial fibrillation (AF), a common complication following heart surgery. Preoperative statin therapy was also independently associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes at 30 days, including death. Taking statins prior to surgery appeared to be well-tolerated by patients, and the risk of side effects was low compared to the potential benefits. The researchers could not define what statin dosage is optimal. The study was published on January 12, 2106, in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

“The results of our review call for proactive efforts to counsel patients and surgeons about the benefit of statins, a benefit that definitely outweighs the risk of rare potential side effects,” said lead author Amr Baraka, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic. “Even in patients who were not having heart-based interventions, statins had a positive influence on recovery.”

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, GA, USA), cholesterol-lowering medication is used by 28% of Americans over the age of 40, and statins account for more than 90% of these drugs. But beyond lowering lipid levels, statins also exert a constellation of pleiotropic beneficial effects, which include an anti-inflammatory role. CABG is associated with an intense systemic inflammatory response, which has been linked to postoperative complications.

Related Links:
Cleveland Clinic
University of Florida
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention