Behavioral Heuristics in Coronary-Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

This study investigated the impact of left-digit bias (cognitive tendency to categorize continuous variables by their leftmost digit) on CABG decisions in Medicare patients with acute myocardial infarction. Analyzing data from 2006–2012, patients admitted after their 80th birthday were 7.0% less likely to undergo CABG than those admitted before (5.3% vs. 7.0%, P<0.001), despite similar baseline characteristics. Adjusted 30-day mortality was higher in the post-80 group (19.8% vs. 17.7%). The findings suggest age-related cognitive biases may influence invasive treatment decisions, potentially affecting outcomes.

This study investigated the impact of left-digit bias (cognitive tendency to categorize continuous variables by their leftmost digit) on CABG decisions in Medicare patients with acute myocardial infarction. Analyzing data from 2006–2012, patients admitted after their 80th birthday were 7.0% less likely to undergo CABG than those admitted before (5.3% vs. 7.0%, P<0.001), despite similar baseline characteristics. Adjusted 30-day mortality was higher in the post-80 group (19.8% vs. 17.7%). The findings suggest age-related cognitive biases may influence invasive treatment decisions, potentially affecting outcomes.