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Published on: March 27, 2018

Excess coronary artery bypass graft mortality among women with hypothyroidism

Dlear Zindrou1, Kenneth M Taylor, Jens Peder Bagger

  • 1Cardiothoracic Directorate, Hammersmith Hospital, London, England.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|March 20, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Women on thyroxine replacement therapy undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting experienced higher mortality. Insufficient thyroid hormone replacement may contribute to this outcome in cardiac surgery patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Thyroid Disease

Background:

  • Thyroid disease impact on coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is understudied.
  • Limited data exists for selected patient groups.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate 30-day mortality in patients on thyroxine replacement therapy undergoing isolated CABG.
  • To identify key variables influencing outcomes in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 3,631 patients undergoing isolated CABG between 1993 and 2000.
  • Comparison of mortality rates between hypothyroid and euthyroid patients, stratified by sex.

Main Results:

  • Higher mortality observed in women on thyroxine replacement (16.7%) versus those without (5.9%; p=0.02).
  • No significant mortality difference in men on thyroxine replacement (3.6%) versus those without (2.6%; p=0.8).
  • Diuretic use associated with increased mortality; aspirin, levothyroxine dose, and serum thyroxine inversely associated with mortality in women on thyroxine.

Conclusions:

  • Women on thyroxine replacement therapy undergoing CABG face increased mortality risk.
  • Potential role of inadequate thyroid hormone replacement suggested as a contributing factor.
Abstract

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