title: Survival 15 to 20 years after coronary bypass surgery for angina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the 15- to 20-year outcome of coronary bypass surgery in patients with angina.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Coronary bypass surgery has been performed for > 20 years; we need to know the expected outcome of a very long-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using actuarial techniques, we determined the outcome of coronary bypass surgery performed for chronic stable and unstable angina in 7,529 patients from 1969 to 1988.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-year survival rates (mean +/- SE) were 88 +/- 1, 73 +/- 1, 53 +/- 1 and 38 +/- 3%, respectively, for the whole group. Compared with patients operated on in 1974 to 1988 (n = 7,026), patients operated on in 1969 to 1973 (n = 503) were younger and had less coronary artery disease but had a higher operative mortality rate and a shorter long-term survival time; 15- and 20-year survival of the 1969 to 1973 cohort was 47 +/- 2% and 33 +/- 3%, respectively. The 1974 to 1988 cohort of patients had a 2.1% operative mortality rate and a 10- and 15-year survival probability of 74 +/- 1% and 55 +/- 2%, respectively. For 2,128 patients with "normal" left ventricular function, the 10- and 15-year survival probability was 82 +/- 1% and 64 +/- 3%, respectively, and for 2,413 patients with "abnormal" left ventricular function, it was 66 +/- 1% and 47 +/- 3%, respectively (p < 0.0001); for men it was 74 +/- 1% and 56 +/- 2%, respectively, and for women, 70 +/- 2% and 52 +/- 5%, respectively, p < 0.05. The actuarial percentages of reoperation and myocardial infarction at 15 years were 33 +/- 2% and 26 +/- 2%, respectively; these values did not differ significantly between men and women. There was a significant (p < 0.001) difference between men and women in angina status; 81% of the men versus 74% of the women had no angina or mild angina at the most recent follow-up study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coronary bypass surgery is an effective form of therapy for angina (for 15 to 20 years) in both men and women.
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute, St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Rahimtoola
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Fessler
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Grunkemeier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Starr
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome