Objective To explore the value of applying evidence-based nursing in the perioperative care of elderly patients with coronary artery disease undergoing OPCABG. Methods Eighty-eight patients admitted to a hospital in Zhengzhou from June 2019 to June 2021 undergoing OPCABG surgery for advanced coronary artery disease were selected for the study. The random number table method was used to divide the patients into a control group and an observation group

with 44 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received conventional care; patients in the observation group received evidence-based nursing care. The complications at discharge were compared between the two groups; the Coronary Artery Disease Self-Management Scale（CSMS） scores before intervention and at discharge were compared between the two groups; the length of hospital stay was compared between the two groups. Results The overall complication rate of patients in the observation group was 4.54%

which was lower than that of 25.01% in the control group

and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.05）. The length of hospital stay of patients in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group

and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.05）. Before the intervention

there was no statistically significant difference between the CSMS scores of patients in the 2 groups（P>0.05）; after the intervention

the CSMS scores of patients in the 2 groups were higher than before the intervention

and the observation group had higher scores than the control group

with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. Conclusion Applying evidence-based nursing in the perioperative care of elderly patients with coronary artery disease undergoing OPCABG shows significant effects. It can reduce the complication rate of patients

shorten the hospital stay and improve the self-management ability of patients

and is worth promoting the application.