Estrogen therapy in women undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: effect on surgical complications

To determine whether estrogen therapy at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting affects postoperative complications.

Consecutive postmenopausal women who had coronary artery bypass grafting between 1992 and 1997 were identified and their medical records were reviewed. Outcome measures included mortality, perioperative cardiac morbidity, and early and late postoperative complications.

Estrogen therapy was noted in 13.9% of 734 women. Those using estrogen replacement were younger (63.9 +/- 0.27 versus 68.8 +/- 0.64 years) and had higher ejection fractions (2.8 +/- 0.11 versus 3.1 +/- 0.04) and fewer vessels bypassed. Mortality rates were 2.9% for estrogen users and 7.4% for nonusers (odds ratio [OR] 0.38; confidence interval [CI] 0.07, 1.21). Perioperative cardiac morbidity rates were 5.8% for estrogen users and 11% for nonusers (OR 0.52; CI 0.23, 1.7). Early complication rates were 0. 98% for estrogen users and 1.11% for nonusers. Late inpatient complications were noted in 6.8% of treated women and 14.8% of those untreated (OR 0.42; CI 0.16, 0.96). Stepwise logistic regression confirmed age, New York Heart Association angina classification, and ejection fraction as significant variables for mortality, perioperative cardiac morbidity, and late complications. Estrogen therapy did not influence mortality, perioperative cardiac morbidity, or early or late complications.

Age, ejection fraction, and New York Heart Association angina classification predicted mortality, perioperative cardiac morbidity, and late complications. Estrogen therapy at the time of admission for coronary artery bypass grafting did not influence surgical mortality, perioperative cardiac morbidity, or early or late complications.