Factors influencing long-term (10-year to 15-year) survival after a successful coronary artery bypass operation

The long-term survival of 6,181 consecutive patients who underwent a coronary bypass operation from 1972 to 1986 was evaluated in relation to certain risk factors: age at the time of operation, sex, preoperative left ventricular function, presence of diffuse coronary artery disease, and previous coronary bypass operation. Advanced age markedly reduced the 10-year and 15-year survival. When compared with the general population, however, the survival of patients in the older age groups (over 60 years) exceeded that of the general population at 10 and 15 years. In patients under 55 years of age, the 10-year and 15-year survival is less than that of the general population. Male and female patients of comparable ages had virtually identical 10-year and 15-year survival rates. Severe left ventricular dysfunction, previous coronary bypass operation, and diffuse coronary artery disease requiring coronary artery endarterectomy all adversely affected the long-term survival rates. Within all age groups studied there was a significant benefit in survival with either one or more mammary artery bypass grafts. The data presented provide an important historical control group that can be used in evaluating the long-term results after successful coronary bypass operations.