Trends in Patient Characteristics and Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in the 2000 to 2012 Medicare Population

The authors reviewed the Medicare database to analyze the trends in CABG surgery within this population over a 12-year period.  Trends in the Medicare population included the following:

• CABG volume decreased by 46%.
• An increasing percentage of CABGs were with fewer grafts (<2).
• ITA use increased from 76% to 89%.
• Comorbidites increased over time.
• The risk-adjusted mortality decreased by 27%.