Ten year survival after coronary artery bypass surgery for angina in patients aged 65 years and older.

We have assessed the long-term results of coronary bypass surgery for angina from 1974 to 1983 in 1304 patients aged 65 years and older (group 1). Using actuarial techniques, we determined that the 5 year and 10 year survival rates for patients 65 years old or older were 81 +/- 2% and 65 +/- 3% (mean +/- SE), respectively. The patients aged 65 years and older were further subdivided into those aged 65 to 74 years (group 1a) and 75 to 84 years (group 1b) and were compared with 1700 patients aged 55 to 64 years (group 2). The operative mortality in the three subgroups was 3%, 3%, and 2%, respectively (p = NS). For coronary bypass surgery, the duration of hospital stay was significantly longer (p less than .0001) by a mean of 1 to 2 days for group 1 patients and the cost of hospitalization was higher by a mean of $ 700 (p = .25). The cost of hospitalization was significantly higher only for group 1b patients (p = .005). The 5 year survival rates for the three subgroups (1a, 1b, and 2) were 83 +/- 2%, 73 +/- 5%, and 91 +/- 1%, respectively, and the 10 year survival rates were 66 +/- 3%, 65 +/- 7% (7 year rate for subgroup 1b), and 77 +/- 2%, respectively. The lower survival rates for subgroups 1a and 1b were significant (p less than .001); however, this lower survival was only seen in men.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)