Do statins have an antiarrhythmic activity?

Sudden cardiac death, which is mainly associated with the presence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, is a common 'killer' among patients with coronary artery disease. Moreover, atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia encountered in the clinical practice. The beneficial effect of statins on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is well-established, while the exact role of this class of drugs against arrhythmias remains unclear. This review discusses the effect of statin treatment on arrhythimas that are commonly seen in the clinical setting. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are also overviewed. Compelling evidence from the majority of the studies reviewed shows that statins exhibit a protective effect against the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation. (c) 2007 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.