This study was published in the European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery 2005 Jun;27(6):1051-6
Study title and authors:
Preoperative statin use and in-hospital outcomes following heart surgery in patients with unstable angina.
Study title and authors:
Preoperative statin use and in-hospital outcomes following heart surgery in patients with unstable angina.
Ali IS, Buth KJ.
Division of Cardiac Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. imtiaz.ali@dal.ca
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15896616
Division of Cardiac Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. imtiaz.ali@dal.ca
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15896616
Unstable angina happens when blood flow to the heart is suddenly slowed by narrowed vessels or small blood clots that form in the coronary arteries. Unstable angina is a warning sign that a heart attack may soon occur. It is an emergency. It may happen at rest or with light activity.
This study investigated the effects of preoperative statin use in patients with unstable angina undergoing coronary artery bypass graft / valve surgery. The study matched 534 patients taking statins with 534 patients not on statins from 1,706 patients classified with Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Grading IV (the most severe grade of angina).
In this study composite outcome refers to adverse events namely: dying in hospital, needing intra-aortic balloon pump use, heart attack, needing use of a ventilator and stroke.
The study found:
(a) Patients taking statins had a 10% increased risk of death whilst in hospital compared to patients not taking statins.
(b) Patients taking statins had a 14% increased risk of composite outcomes compared to patients not taking statins.
