Outcomes improved for sicker patients

Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta released news of a trend toward improved survival and shorter lengths of stay for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and balloon angioplasty (PTCA) patients, and both at about one-third the cost of similar care a decade ago. The findings were presented by Emory’s William S. Weintraub, MD, at the American Heart Association’s meeting in Orlando, FL, last fall.

For CABG procedures:

• Hospital costs fell 30%, from $22,689 in 1988 to $15,987 in 1996.

• Death rates decreased from 4.7% to 2.7%.

For PTCA:

• Per-procedure costs decreased by 26%, from $9,412 in 1991 to $6,978 in 1996.

• Success rate increased from 93% in 1991 to 96% in 1996.

• Stent use increased during the same time from 5.4% to 30.4%.

• Length of stay decreased from 2.8 days in 1991 to 1.9 days in 1996.

Other findings indicated that CABG and PTCA patients are a bit older now and more likely to have high blood pressure, to have had a heart attack, to have diabetes, and to have had congestive heart failure. t