Adherence to secondary prevention recommendations after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess and evaluate adherence to secondary prevention recommendations and risk factor modifications among a patient cohort at a single-tertiary centre in Ireland, following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study analysing patients who had CABG from 2015 to 2020, identified via the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. Patients were asked a number of questions either over the phone or via postal survey, regarding blood pressure, cholesterol control, adherence to medication, attendance at cardiac-rehab and lifestyle factors. Any repeat interventions following CABG were noted. RESULTS: A total of 540 patients were invited to take part in this study. One hundred seventy-three patients consented to participate, ranging from 47 to 86 years old. Postoperatively, 59% of participants attended cardiac rehab. 90.2% of patients report taking a statin, 91.3% report taking an antiplatelet, 77.4% report taking a ß-blocker and 75.7% take an antihypertensive. 93.1% of patients questioned in this study reported full compliance with their daily medications. Sixteen patients continue to have hypertension despite their current regimen. Thirteen patients continue to have hypercholesterolemia despite their current prescription. 62.4% of participants have quit smoking with only 4.6% remaining current smokers. No patients required re-operation, and eight patients required stenting. Compliance with diet and exercise modifications was suboptimal. CONCLUSION: In this patient population, adherence to medication and control of risk factors is acceptable. However, there is room for improvement in terms of attendance at cardiac rehab (59%) and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle post-CABG.

Surgical aortic valve replacement in the era of transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a review of the UK national database.

OBJECTIVES: To date the reported outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are mainly in the settings of trials comparing it with evolving transcatheter aortic valve implantation. We set out to examine characteristics and outcomes in people who underwent SAVR reflecting a national cohort and therefore 'real-world' practice. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive people who underwent SAVR with or without coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery between April 2013 and March 2018 in the UK. This included elective, urgent and emergency operations. Participants' demographics, preoperative risk factors, operative data, in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications and effect of the addition of CABG to SAVR were analysed. SETTING: 27 (90%) tertiary cardiac surgical centres in the UK submitted their data for analysis. PARTICIPANTS: 31 277 people with AVR were identified. 19 670 (62.9%) had only SAVR and 11 607 (37.1%) had AVR+CABG. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality for isolated SAVR was 1.9% (95% CI 1.6% to 2.1%) and was 2.4% for AVR+CABG. Mortality by age category for SAVR only were: <60 years=2.0%, 60-75 years=1.5%, >75 years=2.2%. For SAVR+CABG these were; 2.2%, 1.8% and 3.1%. For different categories of EuroSCORE, mortality for SAVR in low risk people was 1.3%, in intermediate risk 1% and for high risk 3.9%. 74.3% of the operations were elective, 24% urgent and 1.7% emergency/salvage. The incidences of resternotomy for bleeding and stroke were 3.9% and 1.1%, respectively. Multivariable analyses provided no evidence that concomitant CABG influenced outcome. However, urgency of the operation, poor ventricular function, higher EuroSCORE and longer cross clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times adversely affected outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical SAVR±CABG has low mortality risk and a low level of complications in the UK in people of all ages and risk factors. These results should inform consideration of treatment options in people with aortic valve disease.