title: Risk evaluation of cardiac surgery in octogenarians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the predictive value of risk factors in the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) for cardiac surgery on octogenarians.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study of octogenarians undergoing cardiac surgery and average-aged controls matched according to the cardiac surgical procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred sixty-two consecutive patients 80 years or older who underwent cardiac surgery between January 1, 2001, and June 30, 2003, and 162 average-aged controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Risk factors according to the EuroSCORE (The European System for Cardiac Risk Evaluation) model and EuroScore algorithm without an age component (EuroSCOREex) were evaluated. The EuroSCORE model and EuroSCOREex predicted mortality (odds ratio 1.4) and morbidity (odds ratio 1.2 and 1.3, respectively) equally well in both age groups. Adding age group information into the EuroSCOREex model in combined data, the odds ratio estimate was 3.5 for age group. The 30-day mortality of octogenarians was 8.6% versus 1.9% in controls (p < 0.01). Incidences of organ-related complications were comparable. Octogenarians spent more days in the hospital's intensive care unit and surgical ward than did controls (3.4 +/- 3.3 days v 2.7 +/- 3.1 days, p < 0.01; 9.9 +/- 5.8 days v 8.6 +/- 3.8 days, p = 0.02). Only 31 (19.1%) octogenarians were discharged home, whereas the corresponding number was 66 (40.7%) in controls (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk factors other than age were not higher in octogenarians, and the EuroSCORE model predicted mortality and morbidity. Age was an important single risk factor predicting mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. raili.suojaranta-ylinen@hus.fi
authors.forename: Raili Tuulikki
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Suojaranta-Ylinen
authors.forename: Anne Hellevi
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kuitunen
authors.forename: Sinikka Irmeli
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kukkonen
authors.forename: Antti Erland
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.forename: Ulla-Stina
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Salminen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors