Chronic statin therapy linked to reduced postoperative mortality

A new French study has found that statin therapy is associated with reduced postoperative mortality.

It is the first to analyse the impact of preoperative chronic statin therapy on postoperative adverse events in surgical patients.

"Preoperative uses of statins have demonstrated major cardiac and non-cardiac protective effects, including in this study. Since we are now able to also understand the postoperative effects of statin therapy, it should be considered as a global protection for patients," said study author, Bruno Riou.

The observational study analysed 1,674 patients undergoing aortic reconstruction surgeries from January 2001 to December 2009.

Researchers from the Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) and the Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris in Paris, France, compared the outcomes between patients who received chronic statin therapy with those who did not.

The found an almost threefold reduction in the risk of death in patients undergoing major vascular surgery and almost twofold reduction in the risk of postoperative heart attack.

The study also suggested that while statins did not reduce the risk of pneumonia, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and surgical complications, they did reduce mortality in patients with postoperative multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and in those developing postoperative surgical complications.

The findings were published in the journal Anesthesiology.