A retrospective examination of data in a cohort of 10590 patients admitted for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery between 2003 and 2007 was examined to determine body mass index (BMI). Regression analysis was conducted to determine whether BMI was an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality after CABG.
The results found that CABG patients in the underweight body mass index group (<19) had the greatest risk of mortality, prolonged ventilation, reoperation for bleeding, and renal failure. Linear regression indicated length of hospital stay and intensive care unit stay after surgery were the longest for patients with an underweight BMI.
Despite the comorbidities that are often present with obesity, an obese BMI was not found to be an independent predictor of morbidity or mortality after CABG.
Engel AM, McDonough S, Smith JM Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2009; 88: 1793 – 1800