RecruitingPhase 4

Perioperative Statins to Prevent AFib After Lung Surgery

China540 participantsStarted 2026-08-01

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether short-term treatment with atorvastatin can prevent new abnormal rapid heart rhythms after lung surgery in adults aged 60 years or older who are scheduled to have a lung segment or lung lobe removed. The study will also evaluate the safety of short-term atorvastatin treatment around the time of surgery. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does perioperative atorvastatin lower the number of participants who develop atrial fibrillation or a related rapid rhythm from the upper chambers of the heart during the first 72 hours after surgery? * What medical problems or changes in liver, kidney, or muscle-related laboratory tests occur during treatment? Participants will be assigned by chance to receive either short-term atorvastatin treatment or a matching placebo-based comparison treatment. A placebo is a look-alike tablet that does not contain atorvastatin. Participants who were already taking a statin (moderate-intensity) before the study will receive a standardized background statin regimen so that their usual treatment is not stopped unnecessarily. Neither the participants nor most members of the research team will know which treatment has been assigned. Study treatment will usually begin 2 to 7 days before surgery and continue until 72 hours after surgery. After surgery, participants will wear a portable heart monitor continuously for 72 hours to identify abnormal heart rhythms. Researchers will also collect routine clinical information, blood test results, and safety information during the hospital stay and will follow participants for 30 days after surgery.

Who can participate

Age range

60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 60 years or older. * Scheduled to undergo isolated anatomical lung resection, including pulmonary segmentectomy or lobectomy. * Sinus rhythm documented by a preoperative electrocardiogram. * Not receiving antiarrhythmic medication, with the exception of beta-blockers. * Willing and able to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Untreated hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. * History of obstructive hepatobiliary disease, active liver disease, or other serious liver disease. * Preoperative serum creatinine greater than 150 μmol/L. * Known allergy to atorvastatin or another statin, or a history of a serious statin-related adverse reaction, including statin-associated myopathy. * Personal or family history of an inherited muscle disorder. * Continuous use within 1 month before randomization of fibrates, niacin, or medications that strongly inhibit cytochrome P450 or P-glycoprotein, including cyclosporine, oral azole antifungal agents, certain interacting antibiotics, protease inhibitors, nefazodone, or amiodarone. * Consumption of 1 liter or more of grapefruit juice per day within 1 month before randomization. * Current treatment with a high-intensity statin regimen, including atorvastatin 40 mg/day or higher or rosuvastatin 20 mg/day or higher. * Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would make participation unsafe or interfere with the conduct or evaluation of the study.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Number of Participants With New-Onset Postoperative Atrial or Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmia (Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation, POAF)

Timeframe: From the end of surgery through 72 hours after surgery

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07727681

SponsorPeking Union Medical College Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-09-01

Contact for this trial

Tao Lu, MD,PhD

01069152630 lutaowhiz@sina.com

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation trials