7-year outcomes in diabetic patients after coronary artery bypass graft in a developing country.

BACKGROUND: Revascularization in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease remains a challenge in cardiology practice. Although clinical trials have reported the mid-term superiority of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery over percutaneous coronary intervention in these patients, little is known about the long-term outcomes of CABG in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetics, particularly in developing countries. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2016, we recruited all patients who underwent isolated CABG in a tertiary care cardiovascular center in a developing country. The patients were followed at 3-6 months and 12 months after surgery, and then annually. The study endpoints were 7-year all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). RESULTS: Of 23,873 patients (17,529 males, mean age 65.67 years) who underwent CABG, 9227 (38.65%) patients were diagnosed with diabetes. After adjustment for potential confounders, patients with diabetes experienced a 31% increase in MACCE seven years after surgery compared to the non-diabetic patients (HR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.25-1.38, P-value < 0.0001). Meanwhile, diabetes contributes to a 52% increase in the risk of all-cause mortality after CABG (HR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.42-1.61, P-value < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a higher risk of all-cause mortality and MACCE at seven years in diabetic patients undergoing isolated CABG. The outcomes in the studied center in a developing country were comparable to western centers. The high incidence of adverse outcomes in the long term in diabetic patients implies that not only short-term but long-term measures should be taken to improve the CABG outcomes in this challenging patient population.

Effect of postoperative atrial fibrillation on early and mid-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The long-term prognostic role of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is uncertain. Our goal was to investigate the impact of new-onset POAF on midterm adverse cardiovascular events after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent isolated CABG without a preoperative history of atrial fibrillation/flutter. POAF was defined as episodes of AF lasting ≥30 s during the hospitalization period. The effect of POAF on midterm all-cause mortality and cerebrovascular accidents/transient ischaemic attacks (CVA/TIA) was assessed using a Cox proportional hazard regression model in a competing risk setting. Additional analyses were performed on patients surviving an event-free early postoperative period (i.e. within 30 postoperative days after the index operation). RESULTS: A total of 9,310 patients were followed for a median duration of 48.7 months. New-onset POAF was associated with an increased risk of midterm all-cause mortality (HR = 1.648, 95% confidence interval: 1.402-1.937; P < 0.001) and CVA/TIA (subdistribution-HR = 1.635, 1.233-2.167; P = 0.001). After excluding patients who died during the early postoperative period, POAF remained significantly associated with higher late all-cause mortality (HR = 1.518, 1.273-1.811; P < 0.001). However, the risk of late CVA/TIA in patients who survived the early postoperative period without having a stroke was similar between those with and without POAF (subdistribution-HR = 1.174, 0.797-1.729; P = 0.418). CONCLUSIONS: New-onset POAF after CABG is associated with an increased risk of midterm overall mortality and stroke. However, late stroke risk is likely similar between patients with and without POAF who survive an event-free early postoperative period.

Effect of persistent opium consumption after surgery on the long-term outcomes of surgical revascularisation.

BACKGROUND: A wrong traditional belief persists among people that opium consumption beneficially affects cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. However, no evidence exists regarding the effect of opium consumption or cessation on the long-term risk of major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events after coronary artery bypass grafting. We therefore aimed to evaluate the effect of persistent opium consumption after surgery on the long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: The study population consisted of 28,691 patients (20,924 men, mean age 60.9 years), who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting between 2007 and 2016 at our centre. The patients were stratified into three groups according to the status of opium consumption: never opium consumers (n = 23,619), persistent postoperative opium consumers (n = 3636) and enduring postoperative opium withdrawal (n = 1436). Study endpoints were 5-year mortality and 5-year major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events, comprising all-cause mortality, acute coronary syndrome, cerebrovascular accident and revascularisation. RESULTS: After surgery, 3636 patients continued opium consumption, while 1436 patients persistently avoided opium use. The multivariable survival analysis demonstrated that persistent post-coronary artery bypass grafting opium consumption increased 5-year mortality and 5-year major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events by 28% (hazard ratio (HR) 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.54; P = 0.009) and 25% (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.40; P < 0.0001), respectively. It also increased the 5-year risk of acute coronary syndrome by 34% (sub-distribution HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.16-1.55; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that persistent post-coronary artery bypass grafting opium consumption may significantly increase mortality, major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events and acute coronary syndrome in the long term. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings.