Alexander Emil Kaspersen1,2, Susanne J Nielsen3,4, Andri Wilberg Orrason5, Astridur Petursdottir6, Martin Ingi Sigurdsson7,8, Anders Jeppsson3,4, Tomas Gudbjartsson6,7. 1. Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. 2. Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. 3. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. 4. Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden. 5. Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. 6. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. 7. Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 8. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a serious complication after open-heart surgery. We investigated the association between DSWI and short- and long-term all-cause mortality in a large well-defined nationwide population. METHODS: A retrospective, nationwide cohort study, which included 114676 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or valve surgery from 1997 to 2015 in Sweden. Short- and long-term mortality was compared between DSWI patients and non-DSWI patients using propensity score inverse probability weighting adjustment based on patient characteristics and comorbidities. Median follow-up was 8.0 years (range 0-18.9). RESULTS: Altogether, 1516 patients (1.3%) developed DSWI, most commonly in patients undergoing combined CABG and valve surgery (2.1%). DSWI patients were older and had more disease burden than non-DSWI patients. The unadjusted cumulative mortality was higher in the DSWI group compared with the non-DSWI group at 90 days (7.9% vs 3.0%, P < 0.001) and at 1 year (12.8% vs 4.5%, P < 0.001). The adjusted absolute difference in risk of death was 2.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8-3.9] at 90 days and 4.7% (95% CI: 2.6-6.7) at 1 year. DSWI was independently associated with 90-day [adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.89 (95% CI: 1.38-2.59)], 1-year [aRR 2.13 (95% CI: 1.68-2.71)] and long-term all-cause mortality [adjusted hazard ratio 1.56 (95% CI: 1.30-1.88)]. CONCLUSIONS: Both short- and long-term mortality risks are higher in DSWI patients compared to non-DSWI patients. These results stress the importance of preventing these infections and careful postoperative monitoring of DSWI patients.
OBJECTIVES: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a serious complication after open-heart surgery. We investigated the association between DSWI and short- and long-term all-cause mortality in a large well-defined nationwide population. METHODS: A retrospective, nationwide cohort study, which included 114676 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or valve surgery from 1997 to 2015 in Sweden. Short- and long-term mortality was compared between DSWI patients and non-DSWI patients using propensity score inverse probability weighting adjustment based on patient characteristics and comorbidities. Median follow-up was 8.0 years (range 0-18.9). RESULTS: Altogether, 1516 patients (1.3%) developed DSWI, most commonly in patients undergoing combined CABG and valve surgery (2.1%). DSWI patients were older and had more disease burden than non-DSWI patients. The unadjusted cumulative mortality was higher in the DSWI group compared with the non-DSWI group at 90 days (7.9% vs 3.0%, P < 0.001) and at 1 year (12.8% vs 4.5%, P < 0.001). The adjusted absolute difference in risk of death was 2.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8-3.9] at 90 days and 4.7% (95% CI: 2.6-6.7) at 1 year. DSWI was independently associated with 90-day [adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.89 (95% CI: 1.38-2.59)], 1-year [aRR 2.13 (95% CI: 1.68-2.71)] and long-term all-cause mortality [adjusted hazard ratio 1.56 (95% CI: 1.30-1.88)]. CONCLUSIONS: Both short- and long-term mortality risks are higher in DSWI patients compared to non-DSWI patients. These results stress the importance of preventing these infections and careful postoperative monitoring of DSWI patients.