Overall Survival
Results were available for up to 10 years follow up for survival analysis (total follow up time was 578 patient years). Mean follow up time was 5.3 ± 3.6 years. Kaplan Meier analysis (Figure 2) showed improved survival throughout the 10 year period for the AAG cohort compared to the ARR patients. Ten-year survival rates were: AAG 74.6% (95% CI 55.8–86.4%), ARR 48.7% (95% CI 26.1–68.1%), Logrank test p=0.008.
Cox regression analysis identified ARR to be a predictor of worse survival compared to AAG (hazard ratio 2.54, 95% CI 1.25 – 5.15, p=0.01). In addition, advanced age was related to poorer long-term survival (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 – 1.05, p=0.05). Other pre-operative covariates (e.g. Euroscore II, Diabetes, gender) or operative parameters (including cardiopulmonary bypass time) were not associated with poorer survival (p>0.05) (Table 5).