Does Obesity Affect Early Results after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?

Mahdi Aithoussa¹, Noureddine Atmani^1*, Anis Seghrouchni¹, Abdessamad Abdou¹, Younes Moutakiallah¹, Mehdi Bamous¹, Siham Bellouize¹, Fouad Nya¹, Zouhair Lakhal², Abdedaim Hatim Ghadbane¹, Youssef Elbekkali¹, Abdelatif Boulahya¹

¹Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco.
²Department of Cardiology, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco.

DOI: 10.4236/wjcs.2017.710014                

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of obesity on early results after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients underwent isolated CABG from January 2000 through December 2012 was conducted. 586 patients were classified into two groups: Obese (n = 100) BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² and non-obese (n = 486) BMI ≤ 30kg/m². Results: The obese patients included more women (p < 0.01), hypertensives (p = 0.01) and dyslipidemics (p = 0001). The CPB, aortic champ times and number of bypass graft were similar between the groups (p = 0.35, p = 0.51 and p = 0.59 respectively). Also the composite of in-hospital mortality and postoperative complication didn’t differ between the groups. The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction, and need for inotropic drugs or IABP were significantly less in obese patients (p = 0.028, p = 0.031 and p < 0.01 respectively). Conclusions: The current study showed that obesity is not a risk factor of adverse events after CABG and continuous to give another aspect of the “obesity paradox”.

Keywords

Obesity, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, Morbidity, Mortality

1. Introduction

Obesity is a serious public health problem in most occidental countries [1] [2] . The prevalence of obesity has also increased in affluent and developing societies because of change in habit diet [2] [3] . Epidemiologic data indicate that obesity is associated with atherosclerotic heart disease [4] [5] . Most studies comparing the repercussion of overweight and obesity on short and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization found that obesity had negative effect on results after cardiac surgery [6] [7] [8] . But in recent years, acceptable results have been documented due to progress in medical management. This study compared the short outcomes between obese and non-obese patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

2. Methods

The study was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft at our institution. The institutional local medical ethic committee approved the study protocol. All patients who underwent a first isolated CABG operation from January 2000 through December 2012 were considered eligible for the study. We excluded patients who underwent off-pump CABG, concomitant valve surgery, or aortic root replacement in order to ensure to get remained population homogenous.

According to world health organization obesity definition, the patients were divided into 2 groups: non obese patients with BMI (body mass index) < 30 kg/m² and obese patients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m².

Patients demographics, preoperative variables, intraoperative and postoperative variables were obtained from our institutional database.

Standard operating strategy on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was utilized. After Induction of anesthesia and preparation, a median sternotomy was performed. The conduits were harvested. CPB was established using a roller pump with a membrane oxygenator after systemic heparinization (300 UI/kg) to obtain active clotting time kept over 450 seconds. Surgery was performed under mild hypothermia (34˚C). Myocardial protection was achieved with antegrade blood cardioplégia via the root. Repeat doses were given every 20 minutes. Topical cooling was used to enhance myocardial protection.

Distal coronary anastomoses were performed on a still heart. After completion of distal anastomoses and rewarming, the aortic cross clamp was removed, and the proximal ends of the vein grafts were anastomosed to the aorta using a partial occluding clamp. Subsequently, the heart was allowed to perfuse and the patient was weaned from CPB. The procedure was achieved in the standard fashion and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU).

2.1. End Points of the Study

The operative mortality was defined as death from any cause within 30 days after operation or any interval if the patient was not discharged. The morbidity included the following complications occurring during the hospital stay period. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was defined as the appearance of new Q waves on Electrocardiogram, increased level of creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme ≥ 100 µg/l.

The criterion for postoperative renal failure was an increase of at least 50% of the baseline serum creatinine level. A postoperative stroke was defined as a clinical evidence of a focal neurologic deficit with a radiologic defect on imaging techniques.

Low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) was identified as cardiac index lower than 2 l/min/m² which need intra aortic balloon pump (IABP) or excessive inotropic support. The criterion for postoperative infection was the presence of a positive blood culture of the sputum associated with a radiological infiltration.

2.2. Statistical Analysis

SPSS version 19.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis.

Continuous parameters are described by mean ± Standard Deviation or median with interquartile range, whereas categorical data are exposed as frequencies and percentages.

Comparisons of numerical variables between two groups were performed with student’s t test or Mann-Whitney U test if not meeting the normal distribution. Differences in proportion were compared with a chi-square test or Fisher exact test, as appropriate. Statistical significance was set as p < 0.05.

3. Results

Five hundred and eighty six patients were included in the present study. There were 486 (82.9%) non-obese patients (BMI < 30 kg/m²) and 100 (17.1%) obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²). the mean age of the patients was similar in two groups 58.9 ± 8.7 years and 58.5 ± 9.1 years (p = 0.64). Our patients are comparable in terms of age to the patients in Ardeshiri’s study [9] , which represents a sample and a profile of developing countries. The number of female patients in obese groups (26.26%) was higher than in non-obese group (11.3%) (p < 0.01). They were more hypertensive and dyslipidemic patients in the obese group (p < 0.01). No statistical difference was found between groups in terms of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.76) but more smokers were observed in non-obese patients (p < 0.01). The prevalence of co-existant comorbidities was similar into 2 groups. Also, the coronary lesion distribution was similar between obese and non-obese patients. Unlike peripheral vascular disease (PVD) prevailed in the non-obese patients (21.8%) vs. (7.7%) (p < 0.01). The preoperative demographic characteristics of the patients are given in detail in Table 1 and Table 2.

Table 3 showed operatives and postoperatives data of the two groups. When the intraoperative characteristics of the patients are compared the mean CPB, aortic cross clamp and operative times were similar in both groups. Also, the mean number of bypass grafts was similar (p = 0.53). They are no differences in the postoperative complications. When postoperative outcomes are explored, ICU stay was longer in non obese patients (p = 0.014).

Table 1. Non-significant preoperative demographic characteristics of the patients.

CAD: cardiac artery disease. CTI: coronary transluminal intervention. CVA: cerebrovascular attack. LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction.

Table 2. Significant preoperative demographic characteristics of the patients.

BMI: body mass index, DAP: diastolic arterial pressure. LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction. MI: myocardial infarction, SAP: systolic arterial pressure.

Table 3. Operative and postoperative characteristics of the patients.

AMI: acute myocardial infarction. CPB: cardiopulmonary bypass. IABP: intra-aortic balloon pump. ICU: intensive care unit. LOS: low out pout syndrome. MOF: multivisceral organ failure. MV: mechanical ventilation. RBC: red blood cell. RF: renal failure.

AMI occurred markedly in non obese patients (13.9% vs. 6%; p = 0.028). They were no differences in stroke, renal failure, infection, postoperative hospital stay and re-exploration for bleeding. Non obese patients developed LCOS more than obese patients (10.5% vs. 6%; p = 0.16) but it didn’t reach statistical significance. This explained excessive inotropic use (13.7% vs. 6%; p = 0.031) and required IABP more than obese patients (11.7% vs. 3%; p < 0.01). There was no difference in in-hospital mortality (6% in obese vs. 4.7% in non obese; p = 0.59).

The amount of chest tube drainage was similar in both groups (p = 0.63). And the need for Red Blood Cell transfusion was similar also (p = 0.22).

4. Discussion

The most important finding of this study showed that obese patients don’t have greater morbidity and mortality than normal weight patients after CABG. Our patients are comparable in terms of age to the patients in Ardeshiri’s study [9] , which represents a sample and a profile of developing countries. These findings are consistent with some trials which have suggested that obese patients coronary artery disease actually have better outcomes after CABG [10] [11] [12] [13] . Recent studies have shown that obese patients fair better after open heart surgery [12] [14] [15] . This relationship of obesity to postoperative results is complex and called the obesity paradox.

Our study showed also a high prevalence of obesity in cardiac artery disease patients submitted for CABG (17.1%), which is in agreement with some previous studies [9] [16] [17] . Despite socioeconomic disparity, even in developing countries, an increased tendency towards obesity has been observed [18] .

In the era of risk stratification and informed consent, commonly applied estimation of open heart surgical risks may not adequately assess obesity as a risk factor in various scoring system [19] [20] . Also, the highly predictive Euroscore does not include BMI stratification for cardiac surgical [21] . Traditionally, obesity has been viewed as a major risk factor for postoperative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing CABG [20] but many studies have failed to demonstrate that obesity is a determinant risk factor after CABG [13] [22] some studies found a higher incidence of mortality in the postoperative and mid-term follow-up after CABG in obese patients [23] [24] , whereas others did not find this association and reported a lower mortality in obese patients undergoing CABG [25] [26] .

In recent observational retrospective study published by Shahabuddin [13] , in hospital mortality rate was 0.8% in obese patients who underwent CABG. This is explained by marked improvements in medical management of high risk patients who can be operated with acceptable operative mortality. In our case series, demographic data of obese patients differ when compared with non-obese patients. Obese patients have increased prevalence for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, that is consistent with previous reports [8] [27] . We found that female accounted for the majority of our obese patients than non-obese. This finding is consistent with other studies [9] [28] . The data on the prolonged mechanical ventilation in obese patients are conflicting. Saleh et al. [29] studied the risk factors of prolonged ventilation in patients undergoing CABG and they found that BMI > 35 kg/m² was a predictor of prolonged respiratory support. Similar results were observed by Gurbuz et al. [8] . No statistical difference in mean ventilation time was seen between obese and non obese patients in some previous reports [30] [31] . In our case series, obesity was not independently correlated with prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Obese patients undergoing CABG are reported to have an increased intensive care unit stay [32] [33] [34] . In recent study, Ranucci [35] and Khairudin [36] found that obese patients are at higher risk for postoperative hypoxia and prolonged ICU stay. In contrast to the published literature, Alam et al. [27] and Demir et al. [37] reported comparable ICU stay and hospital stay times in obese and non obese patients after CABG. There are disparate results on the association between the obesity and postoperative renal insufficiency. In our study, obese patients did not develop postoperative renal dysfunction more than non obese and our results accords with recent series [37] [38] . But other investigators have linked obesity to an increased risk of postoperative renal dysfunction [8] [39] [40] . The incidence of surgical site infection after CABG is increased in obese compared to normal weight patients [22] [41] [42] [43] . In our study, obese patients developed mediastinitis more than non obese patients but it did not reach statistical significance. These results are in agreement with various reports [27] [31] [44] . Although some studies have suggested that obesity is associated with an increased risk of perioperative AMI [42] [45] , our results noted lower incidence of AMI in obese patients compared with non obese patients (p = 0.02). In our study, chest tube drainage among the two groups was similar and no significant difference in the bleeding reexploration was observed. Similar finding have been described previously [11] [23] [46] . Although not proven, it revealed that obesity was protective for postoperative hemorrhage.

This association can be explained by hyper coagulopathy seen in obese patients due to increased levels of endothelial dysfunction and inhibition of fibrinolytic pathways [10] [47] . The literature regarding transfusion is controversial. Only two studies have evaluated product transfusion rates in obese patients after cardiac surgery. Uva et al. [48] found an increased need for transfusion while Ranucci et al. [49] found a lower incidence of transfusion. Obese patients in our cohort did not require more product transfusions than non obese patients.

Our study presents some limitations that should be kept in mind while interpreting the results. First, the most important was its retrospective design and conducted in a single-centre. Second, BMI may not be the best tool to define obesity. Yang [50] has suggested that the waist circumference or the waist-to-hip ratio seem to be a better measure to define obesity, but these data were not available in our database. Third, there could be other factors that may influence immediate results. Our cohort accounted heterogeneous clinical profile. Half of obese patients were diabetic and 58% have hypertension, 47% have hyperlipedemia and it was well know that metabolic syndrome was an independent risk factor for postoperative adverse outcome. But this population was not studied alone. Finally, the current study includes only in hospital data. It lacks mid-term and long-term follow-up which could give more reliable results.

5. Conclusions

This study shows that obesity doses not affect the risk of perioperative death after coronary artery bypass graft and it is not associated with increased postoperative complications when compared to non-obese patients.

Declarations

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical rules of the Helsinki Declaration and Good Clinical Practice. The study protocol was approved by Mohammed V University medical-ethical committees.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Consent for Publication

All other authors have read the manuscript and have agreed to submit it in its current form for consideration for publication in the journal.

Funding

We declared that the present research did not receive subvention or any funding from elsewhere source, private or public.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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