Higher age predicts adverse outcome and readmission after coronary artery bypass grafting

The present prospective clinical study was carried out to investigate the effect of age on mortality, morbidity, and readmission rates after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Data on 1131 consecutive CABG patients were collected in a surgical center and in all 18 secondary referral hospitals up to 3 months after discharge. Analysis was based on three age groups: 64 years or less (510 patients), 65 to 74 years (448 patients), and 75 years or more (173 patients). Thirty-day mortality rates were 1.6% for the youngest, 5.4% for the middle age group, and 6.9% for the oldest. Major complications occurred in 10.8%, 21.2%, and 24.9% of these patients, respectively. Higher age was associated with more readmissions to health care facilities: The oldest patients had a rate twice as high as those in the youngest group (34.5% vs. 18.6%). Atrial fibrillation (15.4%), chest pain (10.6%), and congestive heart failure (8.5%) were the most common reasons for readmission. In conclusion, elderly patients, who are often suboptimal candidates for CABG, have higher 30-day mortality, higher morbidity, longer length of stay in health care facilities, and an increased risk of readmission within 3 months after CABG; age was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality and postdischarge readmission. Despite the higher risk of adverse events after surgery, three out of four elderly patients recover uneventfully.