Risk evaluation of cardiac surgery in octogenarians.
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.
Suojaranta-Ylinen
Raili Tuulikki
RT
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. raili.suojaranta-ylinen@hus.fi
Kuitunen
Anne Hellevi
AH
Kukkonen
Sinikka Irmeli
SI
Vento
Antti Erland
AE
Salminen
Ulla-Stina
US
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