The costs of coronary artery surgery to the community.
The possible benefits obtained both for the community and patients following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been examined in 4001 patients (mean age 54 years, 14.8% female) who underwent CABG from 1971 to 1982 in the Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Assessment followed a fixed response format questionnaire sent to all patients with a total follow-up of 98.8%. The hospital mortality was 1.4% for the 10 year period with a fall from 4% in 1973 to 0.9% in 1981. Shifts in employment were assessed in survivors. At follow up, 548 patients who were previously employed had ceased full-time or part-time employment. This decrease in employment was attributed mainly to age. Analysis of retirement curves for the general male population and male patients showed a similar pattern but downward translation of 4% for the pre-operative group. A similar downward shift occurred following surgery. For female patients, performance of home duties improved from 159 patients on full home duties pre-operatively to 292 post-operatively. Visits to the doctor dropped in 50% of surviving patients. CABG has a low mortality. The community benefits by helping to maintain productivity and decreased cost for ongoing medical care.
D001315:Australia; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000191:economics*