Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Outcomes in a Statin-Native Population

BACKGROUND: Statin utilization had been associated with improved survival after cardiac surgery. We aim to study whether perioperative treatment with statin could be associated with increased postoperative complications. DESIGN: This was a retrospective, descriptive, single-center study. SETTINGS: We analyzed morbidity after cardiac surgery as well as the outcome related to statin therapy in a tertiary cardiac center. PATIENTS: A total of 202 consecutive patients were enrolled over 1 year after cardiac surgery. INTERVENTION: Patients were divided into two groups; Group I – statin users and Group II – nonusers. MEASUREMENTS: Measurements were baseline and follow-up laboratory markers for muscular injury including cardiac muscle and hepatic injuries and renal injuries. RESULTS: The incidence of rhabdomyolysis and elevation of liver enzymes did not differ between both groups. Postoperative atrial fibrillation was significantly lower in the statin group (P = 0.02). In addition, peak cardiac troponin and creatine kinase-MB did not differ significantly in the statin group. Statin-treated group had significant lower length of mechanical ventilation, and length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit and hospital (P = 0.036, 0.04, and 0.027, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Therapy with statin before cardiac surgeries was not associated with high incidence of adverse events.