Search

Introduction: LDL-cholesterol is related to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The inflammatory process in atherosclerosis may cause an increase in LDL-cholesterol level. Therefore, in this study we proposed to investigate whether LDL-cholesterol level is associated with the patency of saphenous vein graft in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods: Two hundred forty patients who had undergone CABG surgery previously with at least one saphenous vein graft during 2001-2016 in our hospital were included in the study. Patients were directed to cardiac catheterization for stable anginal symptoms or positive stress test results. Before coronary angiography, all patients underwent routine blood tests including assessment of LDL-cholesterol level. Mean follow-up was 6.8 years. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were depicted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox-regression was used to define risk factors. Relative survival was estimated by comparing overall survival. Results: Mean age was 72+/-7 years, 63% were males, and 23% of the procedures were performed off-pump. At 5 years, 20.7% had suffered a major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular event, 5.5% a stroke, 1.2% myocardial infarction, and 5.2% needed repeat revascularization. Saphenous vein grafts were found to be patent in 199 patients and occluded in 41 patients. LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly different between the two groups (165±58 mg/dL vs 112±38 mg/dL, p=0.001, respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that LDL-cholesterol levels were found to be significantly associated with the patency of vein graft (odds ratio = 0.25, 95% confidence internal: 0.10-0.40, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that LDL-cholesterol levels were higher in patients with an occluded saphenous vein graft. To conclusively prove the relationship between LDL-cholesterol values and saphenous vein graft patency, additional investigation would be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]