STS CABG Composite Score

The STS CABG Composite Score comprises four domains consisting of 11 individually NQF-endorsed cardiac surgery measures:
Domain 1) Absence of Operative Mortality – Proportion of patients (risk-adjusted) who do not experience operative mortality. Operative mortality is defined as death during the same hospitalization as surgery or after discharge but within 30 days of the procedure;
Domain 2) Absence of Major Morbidity – Proportion of patients (risk-adjusted) who do not experience any major morbidity. Major morbidity is defined as having at least one of the following adverse outcomes: 1. reoperations for any cardiac reason, 2. renal failure, 3. deep sternal wound infection, 4. prolonged ventilation/intubation, 5. cerebrovascular accident/permanent stroke;
Domain 3) Use of Internal Mammary Artery (IMA) – Proportion of first-time CABG patients who receive at least one IMA graft;
Domain 4) Use of All Evidence-based Perioperative Medications – Proportion of patients who receive all required perioperative medications for which they are eligible. The required perioperative medications are: 1. preoperative beta blockade therapy, 2. discharge anti-platelet medication, 3. discharge beta blockade therapy, and 4. discharge anti-lipid medication.

All measures are based on audited clinical data collected in a prospective registry. Participants receive a score for each of the domains, plus an overall composite score. The overall composite score is created by “rolling up” the domain scores into a single number. In addition to receiving a numeric score, participants are assigned to rating categories designated by one star (below average performance), two stars (average performance), or three stars (above average performance). For consenting participants, scores and star ratings are publicly reported on the STS website.