Statins increase the risk of delirium by 52% after cardiac operations

This study was published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2012 May;93(5):1439-47

Study title and authors:
Preoperative statin therapy is not associated with a decrease in the incidence of delirium after cardiac operations.

Mariscalco G, Cottini M, Zanobini M, Salis S, Dominici C, Banach M, Onorati F, Piffaretti G, Covaia G, Realini M, Beghi C.
Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, Cardiac Surgery Unit, Varese University Hospital, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. giovannimariscalco@yahoo.it

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22541176

This study investigated the association between preoperative statins with the incidence of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The study included 1,577 patients receiving preoperative statins who were matched with a control group of 1,577 not receiving statins.

The study found patients receiving preoperative statins had a 52% increased risk of postoperative delirium compared to patients not taking statins.

Cardiac surgery patients on statins have a 10% increased risk of delirium

This study was published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia 2010 Aug;24(4):555-9

Study title and authors:
Modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Burkhart CS, Dell-Kuster S, Gamberini M, Moeckli A, Grapow M, Filipovic M, Seeberger MD, Monsch AU, Strebel SP, Steiner LA.
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. cburkhart@uhbs.ch

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20227891

Postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery is associated with increased death rates.

The study sought to identify risk factors associated with the development of postoperative delirium in elderly patients after elective cardiac surgery. The study included 113 patients aged 65 or older undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Regarding statins, the study found that patients taking statins had a 10% increased risk of delirium compared to patients not taking statins.