cardiomyopathy,defibrillitor,Statins, a group of commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs, used by patients with enlarged hearts (dilated cardiomyopathy) due to an anti-arrhythmic effect.
Scientists with the Multicenter defibrillators in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy Treatment Evaluation (definite) committee evaluated about 458 sudden cardiac deaths with cardiomyopathy due to a survival benefit and effect of Statin therapy. Among these about, 229 patients were randomly selected to get an implantable Cardioverter defibrillator to treat their abnormal heart rhythm.However these devices are programmed to detect the abnormalities first, and to then deliver a shock to restore normal heart rhythm. On an average, 110 patients were found to take Statin, while 348 take drugs such as Lipitor, Pravachol and Zocor. Statin therapy pack a 78-percent reduced mortality rate for cardiac patients.
Dr. Jeffrey J. Goldberger of northwestern University in Chicago, reported a 39-percent lower mortality rate among patients who received a defibrillator and who were on statin therapy than other patients in a 2,000 days study.
There was only 1 sudden death from arrhythmia among the patients who were receiving Statins, compared with 18 patients who were not on Statins and they require a shock to correct an abnormal heartbeat when compared to statin takers. Statins' benefits are may be due to their cholesterol-lowering effects, and primarily due to anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant effects or effects on the nervous system.
