No abstract

Author Contributions: Drs Sammon and Trinh had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been recognized as a sensitive marker of cardiometabolic risk. Recent evidence suggests efficacy of long-term statin therapy in reducing EAT in patients with coronary artery disease. Whether short-term statin therapy is associated with changes in the volume of EAT is currently unknown. A cohort of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation was randomized to receive either 80 mg/day of atorvastatin (n=38, 32 males, age 56 ± 11 years) or placebo (n=41, 33 males, age 56 ± 10 years) for a 3-month period. EAT volume was assessed by cardiac computed tomography at baseline and at follow-up. Patients randomized to statin treatment exhibited a modest but significant decrease in median EAT volume (baseline vs follow-up: 92.3(62.0–133.3) vs 86.9(64.1–124.8) cm3, p < 0.05) while median EAT remained unchanged in the placebo group (81.9(55.5–110.9) vs 81.3(57.1–110.5) cm3, p = NS). Changes in median systemic inflammatory markers and lipid profile were also seen with statin treatment: C-reactive protein (2.4(0.7–3.7) vs 1.1(0.5–2.7) mg/L, p < 0.05), total cholesterol (186(162.5–201) vs 123(99–162.5) mg/dL, p < 0.001), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (116(96.5–132.5) vs 56(40.5–81) mg/dL, p < 0.001) diminished, while median body mass index did not change (27.8(25–30) vs 27.6(25.7–30.5) kg/m2, p = NS). No variations occurred in the placebo group. In conclusion, short-term intensive statin therapy significantly reduced the volume of EAT in AF patients.