Propensity analysis of outcome in coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients >75 years old

We looked at the complications and hospital resources of an elderly population undergoing first-time isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in comparison to a younger counterpart for a propensity matched cohort.

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted on 2804 CABG patients. Two age groups, >75 years and ≤75 years, were generated. Potential differences in demographic, baseline, preoperative, and intraoperative characteristics were investigated. A propensity score based on these differences was calculated and used to create a matched set of patients. Major postoperative complications were recorded, and data on indicators of resource utilization were collected.

In all, 311 (11.1%) patients were identified as >75 years of age. The observed complication rate was significantly higher in overall, pulmonary, cardiac, renal, gastrointestinal (GI), neurological, infective, and mortality categories (P < 0.0001). Observed hospital resource utilization was significant in the elderly group in terms of initial stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and ICU readmission (P < 0.05) and in all preoperative, postoperative, cardiac surgery, and total hospital stays (P < 0.001). However, after propensity matching to 311 patients ≤75 years, the overall postoperative complication rate maintained its significance (P < 0.0001), in addition to atrial fibrillation and neurological, renal, and GI complications (P < 0.05). Elderly patients required longer duration of ventilation postoperatively and longer postoperative stay, cardiac surgery stay, and total hospital stay; and they maintained a higher surgical mortality rate (6.1% vs. 2.6%) (P < 0.05).

Elderly patients undergoing CABG had significantly higher rates of postoperative complications. Their prolonged hospital stay and consequently higher resources utilization need to be adequately highlighted to heath care officials and appropriately addressed.