Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is commonly performed to treat ischemic heart
disease, but long-term benefits are limited by failed patency of bypass grafts. Both
statin medications and aspirin hold class I indications for all post-CABG patients
and should be continued indefinitely unless contraindications exist. Unfortunately,
there are limited data regarding long-term usage of these essential medications. We
assessed the utilization rates of statins and aspirin among post-CABG patients referred
for coronary angiography. Analysis of post-CABG patients presenting to Thomas Jefferson
University for a cardiac catheterization procedure at least 3 years after surgery
was performed. Inpatient and outpatient records were reviewed to assess prescribing
patterns of these medications, as well as other pertinent clinical and laboratory
data. The study population was 381 consecutive patients presenting at a mean of 11
± 6 years from CABG. Mean age was 69 ± 11 years and 78% were men. A total 67% of patients
were being prescribed a statin, whereas 75% were prescribed aspirin. Only 52% were
prescribed both at the time of catheterization. Patients prescribed a statin had a
significantly lower mean low-density lipoprotein (87 vs 106 [p <0.01]) and total cholesterol
values (151 vs 162 [p <0.01]). A total of 35% of patients had low-density lipoprotein
≥100. Only 43% of saphenous vein grafts in the patients not on statin medications
remained patent. In conclusion, long-term statin and aspirin use after CABG remains
suboptimal despite clear guideline recommendations and clinical trial evidence of
their effectiveness.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 19, 2016
Accepted:
April 12,
2016
Received in revised form:
April 12,
2016
Received:
February 11,
2016
Footnotes
All authors had access to the data and a role in writing the study.
See page 43 for disclosure information.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
