Secondary Prevention After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: 2026 Update
Updated: May 13, 2026
- Durable outcomes after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery require deliberate, clinician-led secondary prevention. Gaps in implementation highlight an important opportunity for coordinated system-level approaches integrated throughout the perioperative continuum to improve adherence.
- Foundational pharmacologic therapy after CABG, which may include lifelong aspirin for graft patency, aggressive LDL-C lowering, and individualized guideline-directed cardioprotective therapies (β-blockers, ACE inhibitors/ARBs, SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 RAs), is most effective when initiated early and sustained long-term.
- Transitional care, in the form of coordinated handoffs at discharge, cardiac rehabilitation, telemedicine, and structured follow-up, supports implementation and adherence to secondary prevention strategies after CABG.
Secondary Prevention After CABG
In this video, Writing Group Chair Marc Ruel, MD, MPH, FAHA and Vice Chair Sigrid Sandner, MD, MS discuss the 2026 Update, highlighting advances in guideline-directed medical therapy, antithrombotic management, cardiac rehabilitation, weight management, and mental health and emphasizing a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to improving long-term outcomes after CABG.
Recommended Reading
- 2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Coronary Artery Revascularization
- 2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Chronic Coronary Disease
- Secondary Prevention After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
- Comprehensive Management of Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes