Statins May Have Anti-Arrhythmic Properties

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 08 - A study involving patients with implantable
cardioverter-defibrillators suggests that the use of statins may reduce the
frequency of cardiac death or tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation,
according to researchers.

Previous studies have suggested that statins may have anti-arrhythmic effects
in patients with coronary artery disease, Dr. Anant K. Vyas of the University
of Rochester Medical Center, New York and colleagues note.

To investigate further, the researchers studied data for 654 patients who
received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. The subjects were
categorized by statin use and followed for about 36 months.

The findings are reported in the February 21st issue of the Journal of the
American College of Cardiology.

Patients who took statins on 90% or more days were significantly less likely
to have experienced implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use for tachycardia
or fibrillation or to have died from cardiac causes than were patients who
used statins less often. This amounted to an approximate 35% reduction in the
risk of these outcomes.

The researchers stress that the study was observational and had other
limitations. However, these and other findings, "suggest that statins have
anti-arrhythmic properties," they conclude.

J Am Coll Cardiol 2006;47:769-773.