Survival after CABG - better than predicted by EuroSCORE and equal to the general population

Objectives. Examine short- and intermediate-term survival after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and compare this to survival of the general population and to that predicted by EuroSCORE. Design. One thousand three hundred and fifty one consecutive patients undergoing CABG were prospectively included. Survival status was ascertained through the Norwegian National Registry. Results. Compared to the general population, no statistical significant difference in survival was seen in operated patients. Overall mortality rate was 0.8% after 30 days, 2.8%, 4.0% and 7.1% at one, two and three years, respectively. When patients were divided into four groups according to EuroSCORE, mortality increased significantly with increasing score, as expected. However, EuroSCORE overestimated mortality. Conclusion. Patients operated with CABG at our institution have similar survival as in the general Norwegian population. Although overestimating mortality by almost five-fold, we found a strong association between EuroSCORE and short-time survival, and an association between EuroSCORE and intermediate-term survival.