Perioperative outcomes of coronary artery bypass graft in renal transplant recipients in the United States: results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In fact, death from cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of graft loss in kidney transplant (KTx) patients. Compared to patients on dialysis, CKD patients with KTx have increased quality and length of life. It is not known, however, whether outcomes of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery differ between CKD patients with KTx or on dialysis.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study comparing CKD patients with KTx or on dialysis undergoing CABG surgery included in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2011. Logistic and linear regression models were used to estimate the adjusted associations of KTx on all-cause in-hospital mortality, length of stay, cost of hospitalization, and rate of complications in CABG surgery.

Results: CKD patients with KTx had decreased all-cause in-hospital mortality (2.68% vs 5.86%, odds ratio (OR)=0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.32 to 0.99, P=.046), length of stay (β=-2.96, 95% CI=-3.67 to -2.46, P<.001), and total hospital charges (difference=-$38 884, 95% CI=-$48 173 to -29 596, P<.001). They also had decreased rate of a number of perioperative complications.

Conclusions: CKD patient with KTx have better perioperative outcomes in CABG surgery compared to patients on dialysis.