Late Outcomes (Table 5, 6, 7)
Cardiac death was significantly less frequent in the BITA group (p = 0.003). There was no significant difference in the frequency of cerebral infarction and infection, or in the constituents of the MACE between the groups.
The Kaplan-Meier curves for overall and MACE-free survival are shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. Overall survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years in the BITA group were 90.2%, 64.6%, and 51.8%, respectively, whereas in the SITA group, they were 82.3%, 57.6%, and 20.6%, respectively. MACE-free rates at 1, 3, and 5 years in the BITA group were 96.6%, 87.4%, and 70.1%, respectively, whereas in the SITA group were 91.5%, 60.6%, and 45.4%, respectively. MACE-free survival rates were significantly higher in the BITA group (p = 0.04). Although there was no significant difference in overall survival, there was a clear tendency toward improvement in the BITA group.
Cox proportional hazard models determined the predictors of late death. Univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between late death and the following factors: age (p = 0.0044), impaired heart function (EF < 40%) (p = 0.019), emergent operation (p = 0.018), incomplete revascularization (p = 0.0001), DSWI (p = 0.0002), and postoperative stroke (p = 0.008). Multivariate analysis revealed that age (p = 0.045), and incomplete revascularization (p = 0.002) were independent predictors of late death.