Trends in utilization of coronary artery bypass surgery and associated outcomes: Alberta, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia.

The primary objective of this study was to examine trends in rates and outcomes of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery across the 3 Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia, during fiscal years 1991-1995. Annual age-standardized CABG surgery rates were calculated by sex for each province. Province-specific average length of stay (ALOS) and postsurgical complication rates were calculated using ICD-9 codes. Rates of CABG were higher among men compared with women in all 3 provinces. Whereas ALOS, complications rates, and mortality rates decreased in all provinces over the study period, there was considerable variation in province-specific rates.