Amiodarone protects diabetics and non-diabetics undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting equally.

Author(s): Zebis LR, Christensen TD, Thomsen HF, Hjortdal VE

Affiliation(s): Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery & Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Aarhus N, Denmark. LRZ@post.tele.dk

Publication date & source: 2008-06, Scand Cardiovasc J., 42(3):173-7.

Publication type:

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate amiodarone prophylaxis in diabetics and non-diabetics. Further to clarify whether the risk of developing atrial fibrillation is higher for diabetics than non-diabetic patients, and to evaluate whether the diabetic status has any influence on the length of in-hospital stay. DESIGN: Subgroup analysis within a randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial. RESULTS: At 30 days of follow-up atrial fibrillation was equally frequent among diabetics (22%) and non-diabetics (17%) (p =0.41). The length of in-hospital stay for diabetics was prolonged with 25% (9%; 45%). The prophylactic amiodarone was found equally efficient in diabetics and non-diabetics, as the relative risk ratios were 1.2 (0.4-5.4) and 2.0 (0.3-12.5), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetics and non-diabetics had the same effect of the amiodarone prophylaxis regime. Atrial fibrillation developed equally among diabetics and non-diabetics, but the length of stay was prolonged for diabetics.