Coronary artery surgery study (CASS): a randomized trial of coronary bypass surgery. Eight years follow-up and survival in patients with reduced ejection fraction.
Survival data after 8 years of follow-up for all patients and after 7 years for certain subgroups are reported from CASS, a randomized trial of surgical or medical treatment assignment in patients with coronary artery disease who have less than severe angina or are asymptomatic after myocardial infarction. After 8 years, survival curves are not significantly different between medical and surgical groups; 87% of patients assigned to surgical and 84% of those assigned to medical treatment are alive. A significant advantage favoring surgical assignment was observed in patients with three-vessel disease and reduced ejection fractions (less than 0.5. but greater than 0.35); after 7 years of follow-up, 88% of the patients in the surgical group and 65% of those in the medical group are alive (p = .009). Survival curves for patients with normal resting ejection fractions are identical after 7 years. We conclude that the CASS trial reveals a significant advantage favoring surgical therapy in patients with three-vessel disease and impaired ventricular function who are randomly assigned to treatment.
D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000401:mortality; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012042:Registries; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors