CORONARY-ARTERY SURGERY IN WOMEN COMPARED WITH MEN - ANALYSIS OF CORONARY RISK-FACTORS AND IN-HOSPITAL MORTALITY IN A SINGLE-CENTER - ABSTRACTS

Objective-To determine differences in coronary risk factors between wo men and men and their relation to in-hospital mortality associated wit h coronary artery bypass grafting. Design-Prospective observational st udy. Setting-A regional cardiothoracic centre. Patients-482 (362 (75%) men and 120 (25%) women) consecutive patients who had primary isolate d coronary artery bypass grafting. Results-The women were on average t hree years older than the men (63 v 60 years, P<0.001). Women more fre quently had hypertension (47% v 33%, P<0.01), diabetes mellitus (21% v 10%, P<0.005), hypothyroidism (9% v 2%, P<0.003), and a family histor y of premature coronary heart disease (49% v 31%, P<0.0006). More of t he men were cigarette smokers (67% v 45%, P>0.00001). Many of the wome n and men had dyslipidaemia. Postmenopausal women had a higher concent ration of serum total cholesterol than men of a comparable age, (7.3 m mol/l v 6.5 mmol/l, P=0 0002). Although arterial grafts were often use d in both sexes, they were more often used in men than in women (91% v 78% respectively, P = 0.0003). In-hospital mortality was 2.1% (1.4% i n men and 4.2% in women, P = 0.14). The estimated one year probability of survival in men who had survived 30 days was 0.99 with 95% confide nce interval 0.98 to approximately 1 while that for women was 0.97 wit h 95% confidence interval 0.91 to approximately 1. Univariate analysis showed that preoperative history of diabetes mellitus was a predictor of mortality (P = 0.03). Conclusion-There were differences in the inc idence and type of risk factors in men and women who had coronary arte ry bypass grafting. Preoperative diabetes mellitus was a predictor of in-hospital mortality.