Introduction
The average age and risk profile of patients undergoing cardiac surgery are steadily increasing and present new sets of challenges to surgical care. Whereas the clinical implications of this demographic change continue to be the focus of ongoing investigation,1,2 the impact on care and clinical resource utilisation has not been clearly defined, even though studies have shown higher costs for octogenarians.3,4
Cost of care is a major issue in healthcare delivery, and cost-effectiveness in universal healthcare schemes like the National Health Service (NHS) is critical to sustainability.5,6 The core founding principles of the NHS �
