Clinical follow-up of 106 patients five years after coronary bypass surgery for angina pectoris.

One hundred and six consecutive survivors were re-examined five years after coronary bypass surgery for stable angina pectoris (88 patients) or unstable angina (18 patients). Ninety-two per cent had less symptoms than before operation, 70% were so improved that they were not restricted in daily life and 30% considered themselves free from angina. Excluding one patient, who experienced chest pain at the exercise test and three asymptomatic patients who had undergone repeat operations, only 26% were free from angina at the five-year evaluation. Patients without angina had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure than those with residual symptoms, whereas the type of angina, smoking habits, serum lipids and common risk factors did not differ significantly. Thirteen per cent were employed on admittance for surgery, 49% had been able to work after surgery and 36% of those, who did not have old-age pension or invalidity pension for non-cardiac causes, worked full-time five years after surgery. Patients with sedentary work returned more often (53%) than those with manual labour (22%) and patients with sick-leave less than six months before surgery more often (91%) than those with sick-leave more than two years (13%). Peri-operative infarction was recorded in 5% and a further 10% suffered late myocardial infarction.