Gender and functional outcome after coronary artery bypass

Background: Female gender is an established risk factor for increased mortality and morbidity after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. However, the impact of gender on functional outcome after CABG is not well established. Methods: Functional status was assessed at baseline and at 6 months with the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) in 196 consecutive patients undergoing isolated primary CABG. Follow-up data were complete in 158 (81%) patients. The functional status of the 54 (34%) female and the 104 (66%) male patients was compared. Results: The mean DASI score was significantly lower in women at baseline (19.3 ± 13.8 vs 28.3 ± 16.8, P = .001) and at 6 months (22.7 ± 16.3 vs 32.8 ± 18.2, P = .0007); however, the 6-month change in DASI score (3.3 ± 16.9 vs 4.5 ± 20.0, P = .7) was comparable. A similar proportion of women and men (54% vs 53%) had improved above their baseline functional level at 6 months. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that women undergo CABG at a significantly lower functional level than men; however, the functional improvement after CABG is similar across genders. (Surgery 1999;126:184-90.)