Frequency and Short-Term Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Young Adults with Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) among young adults and to evaluate short-term postoperative outcomes in this population. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary cardiac care center following institutional ethical approval. All patients undergoing CABG during the study period were enrolled using consecutive sampling. Young adults were defined as patients aged 18–45 years. Demographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, operative variables, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Patients were followed until hospital discharge to assess complications, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality. Results: A total of 514 patients underwent CABG, of whom 58 (11.3%) were young adults. Young adults had a significantly lower prevalence of hypertension compared with older patients (p = 0.005), while other risk factors—including diabetes, smoking history, and obesity—were comparable between groups. Operative characteristics, including cumulative bypass time and postoperative hospital stay, were similar across age groups. Overall postoperative complication rates were low (4.7%), and in-hospital mortality was 1%, with no deaths recorded among young adults. Multivariable analysis demonstrated a significant inverse association between young age and hypertension (adjusted OR 0.44; 95% CI: 0.20–0.81; p = 0.008). Conclusion: Young adults constitute a notable proportion of patients undergoing CABG and experience excellent short-term postoperative outcomes with low complication rates and no in-hospital mortality. These findings highlight the importance of early identification and management of cardiovascular risk factors to address premature coronary artery disease.