Abstract
Hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitors (statins) reduce mortality in coronary artery disease, heart failure and have been shown to have pleiotropic anti-arrhythmic effects. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the utility of statins in atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VA). Systematic review of all studies from 1990 until 2006 identified fourteen good quality studies on statins and AF and five studies on statins and VA. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model and the pooled risk ratio (RR) for AF was RR: 0.73 (95% CI: 0.62-0.86) and for long term VA was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.44-0.94). In the subgroup analysis that included only randomized studies, the pooled risk ratio (RR) using random effects model for AF was RR: 0.64 (95% CI: 0.37-1.14). In conclusion, statins decrease the incidence and recurrence of AF and VA, but additional randomized studies are required to confirm this pleiotropic effect of statins.