Mortality, risk indicators of death, mode of death and symptoms of angina pectoris during 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting in men and women

Aim. To describe mortality, risk indicators of death, mode of death and symptoms of angina pectoris during 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting in women and men. Sample. All patients in western Sweden who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting without concomitant valve surgery and without previously performed coronary artery bypass grafting between June 1988 and June 1991. Results. In all, 2000 patients participated in the evaluation, 381 (19%) of whom were women. Compared to men, who had a 5-year mortality of 13.3%, women had a relative risk of death of 1.4 (95% CI 1.0-1.8; P = 0.03). Renal dysfunction interacted significantly (P = 0.048) with gender, in that the differences were more marked in patients without renal dysfunction. When adjusting for differences at baseline, the relative risk of death amongst women was 1.0 (95% CL 0.7-1.3). Compared to men, women had an increased risk of in-hospital death and death associated with stroke. However, amongst the patients who died, the place and mode of death appeared to be similar in women and men. Amongst survivors after 5 years, women had more symptoms of angina pectoris than men. Conclusion. During 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting, women had an increased mortality compared to men; renal dysfunction seemed to interact with female gender regarding mortality. Women had a higher risk of in-hospital death and death associated with stroke. However, the adjusted relative risk of death during 5 years was equal in women and men. Amongst survivors, women suffered more from angina pectoris than men.