Coronary artery bypass graft surgery in older women and men.
OBJECTIVE
To compare women and men younger than 70 years of age and 70 years or older undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review, case-control series.


METHODS
University medical center.


METHODS
All women (n = 465) having first-time isolated coronary artery bypass surgery between 1983 and 1988, and 465 men matched for age and year of surgery. Predominantly white; 33% were 70 years or older.


METHODS
Medical record data: demographics, preoperative comorbidities, perioperative and postoperative complications, mortality, length of stay.


RESULTS
Preoperatively, women 70 years of age or older had a higher incidence of congestive heart failure, renal disease and hypertension, and a lower incidence of smoking history compared with women less than 70 years old. Men 70 years or older had a higher incidence of congestive heart failure and renal disease, and a lower incidence of smoking history compared with men less than 70 years old. There was no difference in mortality between older and younger women, whereas the mortality rate for older men was higher than that for younger men. There were fewer differences between women younger than 70 and those 70 years or older in incidence of postoperative complications than between men of those same age groups. Among patients 70 years or older, incidence of postoperative congestive heart failure was greater in women than in men. There were no other differences between women and men younger than 70 and those 70 years or older in incidence of postoperative complications. Controlling for the influence of postoperative complications, age was related to length of stay for women and men.


CONCLUSIONS
Older women were at no greater risk of mortality or the occurrence of postoperative complications compared with younger women or older men. A functional component influencing recovery and length of hospital stay needs to be considered to provide optimal nursing care after surgery.
King
K B
KB
School of Nursing, University of Rochester, NY 14642.
Clark
P C
PC
Norsen
L H
LH
Hicks
G L
GL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000451:nursing / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology