Background

Sex is suggested to influence outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), although evidence on long-term mortality is controversial and cardiovascular outcome data are lacking. We studied sex differences in outcomes after isolated CABG.

Methods

Consecutive patients with first-time isolated CABG for stable coronary artery disease between 2004 and 2014 in Finland were retrospectively recognized from national registry (n = 14,681; 21% women). Propensity scoring and inverse probability weighting were used to adjust for baseline features. Median follow-up was 10.0 (maximum 14.6) years.

Results

Cumulative major adverse cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death) rate was 44.5% in men and 49.9% in women during follow-up (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; P = .633). All-cause mortality was 48.5% in men vs 46.0% in women (HR, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.30; P < .0001), and cardiovascular mortality was 29.5% vs 31.3% (P = .625). Stroke rate was comparable between men and women (19.4% vs 23.6%; P = .625). Myocardial infarction occurred more frequently in women (20.0% vs 23.6%; HR, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.95; P = .005). Redo revascularization was performed to 12.8% of women and to 12.6% of men (P = .100). Anticoagulation was more frequently used by men and adenosine diphosphate inhibitors and diuretics were more frequently used by women after CABG. Usage of statins, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-blockers, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, or nitrates did not differ between sexes after CABG.

Conclusions

Sex was not an independent predictor of long-term major adverse cardiovascular events after CABG in this population-based cohort study. However, men had higher long-term all-cause mortality and women higher risk of myocardial infarction. Long-term outcomes should be accounted for when considering sex as a risk factor for CABG.