title: Clinical correlates of long-term mortality after percutaneous interventions of saphenous vein grafts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing number of patients undergo percutaneous intervention of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs). However, the clinical factors associated with long-term mortality after SVG interventions are currently less known. Accordingly, the goal of present study was to evaluate clinical correlates of long-term mortality and to develop a simple bedside tool for risk stratification in patients undergoing SVG interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 1019 patients undergoing SVG interventions from the Duke Cardiovascular Disease Database (1986-2003). Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify baseline variables associated with long-term mortality, and the model variables were then used to construct a nomogram for survival probability at 4 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At a median follow-up of 4 years, 24% of those undergoing SVG interventions died (interquartile range 2-7 years). Independent correlates of death at follow-up on multivariable analysis included presenting heart rate (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03), diabetes (HR 1.73, 95% CI 1.37-2.18), presenting heart failure (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.27-2.06), age (per 10-year increase, HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.13-1.46), peripheral vascular disease (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.23-2.04), renal insufficiency (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.36-2.97), patent internal mammary graft (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.53-0.86), body mass index < or = 25 kg/m2 (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.97), carotid bruit (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.12-1.85), S3 ventricular gallop (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.11-3.03), and hypertension (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.04-1.83) (c-index 0.83). Bootstrap validation confirmed excellent internal validity of the model (mean c-index 0.84, 95% CI 0.80-0.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term survival after SVG intervention is poor, with one fourth of patients dying at median follow-up of 4 years. The nomogram developed using the model variables provides a method for clinicians to advise patients undergoing SVG interventions regarding their long-term prognosis, thereby enhancing discharge and long-term follow-up planning and setting up of realistic expectations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center and the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC 27715, USA. mehta007@dcri.duke.edu
authors.forename: Rajendra H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Honeycutt
authors.forename: Linda K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glower
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sketch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000401:mortality*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D016019:Survival Analysis