Comparison of coronary artery bypass grafting versus medical therapy on long-term outcome in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (a 25-year experience from the Duke Cardiovascular Disease Databank)

In this observational treatment comparison in a single center over 25 years, we sought to assess long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or medical therapy in patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The benefit of CABG compared with medical therapy alone in these patients is a source of continuing clinical debate. This analysis considered all patients with New York Heart Association class II or greater symptoms, 1 or more epicardial coronary vessels with a ≥75% stenosis, and a left ventricular ejection fraction 10 years regardless of the extent of coronary disease (p