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Coronary bypass surgery matches general survival for 10 years, but men face sharper long-term decline, hinting at graft issues.  

According to this retrospective research study published in June 2025 in the issue of American Journal of Cardiology, sex-specific survival after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery compared to the age-matched general population was examined.   

They analyzed 3 databases (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library). The primary and only outcome was long-term all-cause mortality. Time-to-event data were reconstructed for analysis. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CISs were calculated to estimate survival differences.  

The results showed that 1,352 studies were initially identified, of which 8 studies, including 1,42,165 individuals, were analyzed. Over the 19-year follow-up, those who received CABG had lower survival than the age-matched general population in both males (HR= 1.14, 95% CI, 1.05–1.23, P=0.002) and females (HR= 1.21, 95% CI, 1.01–1.47, P=0.045). Landmark analysis indicated no survival difference during the first 10 years. In the extended follow-up, women showed slightly better long-term survival compared to men (HR= 1.04, 95% CI, 1.01–1.08).  

Investigators concluded that men and women had comparable life expectancy to the general population in the first decade after coronary artery bypass grafting for coronary artery disease, but survival declined beyond 10 years, particularly in men, possibly due to graft occlusions. 

Source: ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(25)00358-3/fulltext