Gender and cardiac surgery

Days alive and out of hospital for adult female and male cardiac surgery patients: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Research shows women experience higher mortality than men after cardiac surgery but information on sex-differences during postoperative recovery is limited. Days alive and out of hospital (DAH) combines death, readmission and length of stay, and may better quantify sex-differences during recovery. This main objective is to evaluate (i) how DAH at 30-days varies between sex and surgical procedure, (ii) DAH responsiveness to patient and surgical complexity, and (iii) longer-term prognostic value of DAH.

METHODS

We evaluated 111,430 patients (26% female) who underwent one of three types of cardiac surgery (isolated coronary artery bypass [CABG], isolated non-CABG, combination procedures) between 2009 - 2019. Primary outcome was DAH at 30 days (DAH30), secondary outcomes were DAH at 90 days (DAH90) and 180 days (DAH180). Data were stratified by sex and surgical group. Unadjusted and risk-adjusted analyses were conducted to determine the association of DAH with patient-, surgery-, and hospital-level characteristics. Patients were divided into two groups (below and above the 10th percentile) based on the number of days at DAH30. Proportion of patients below the 10th percentile at DAH30 that remained in this group at DAH90 and DAH180 were determined.

RESULTS

DAH30 were lower for women compared to men (22 vs. 23 days), and seen across all surgical groups (isolated CABG 23 vs. 24, isolated non-CABG 22 vs. 23, combined surgeries 19 vs. 21 days). Clinical risk factors including multimorbidity, socioeconomic status and surgical complexity were associated with lower DAH30 values, but women showed lower values of DAH30 compared to men for many factors. Among patients in the lowest 10th percentile at DAH30, 80% of both females and males remained in the lowest 10th percentile at 90 days, while 72% of females and 76% males remained in that percentile at 180 days.

CONCLUSION

DAH is a responsive outcome to differences in patient and surgical risk factors. Further research is needed to identify new care pathways to reduce disparities in outcomes between male and female patients.

Does previous asbestos exposure increase the risk of a post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) pleural effusion - a routine data study?

BACKGROUND

Development of pleural effusion (PE) following CABG is common. Post-CABG PE are divided into early- (within 30 days of surgery) and delayed-onset (30 days-1 year) which are likely due to distinct pathological processes. Some experts suggest asbestos exposure may confer an independent risk for late-onset post-CABG PE, however no large studies have explored this potential association.

RESEARCH QUESTION

To explore possible association between asbestos exposure and post-CABG PE using routine data.

METHODS

All patients who underwent CABG 01/04/2013-31/03/2018 were identified from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Database. This England-wide population was evaluated for evidence of asbestos exposure, pleural plaques or asbestosis and a diagnosis of PE or PE-related procedure from 30 days to 1 year post-CABG. Patients with evidence of PE three months prior to CABG were excluded, as were patients with a new mesothelioma diagnosis.

RESULTS

68,150 patients were identified, of whom 1,003 (1%) were asbestos exposed and 2,377 (3%) developed late-onset PE. After adjusting for demographic data, Index of Multiple Deprivation and Charlson Co-morbidity Index, asbestos exposed patients had increased odds of PE diagnosis or related procedure such as thoracentesis or drainage (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.03-1.76, p = 0.04). In those with evidence of PE requiring procedure alone, the adjusted OR was 1.66 (95% CI 1.14-2.40, p = 0.01). Additional subgroup analysis of the 518 patients coded for pleural plaques and asbestosis alone revealed an adjusted OR of post-CABG PE requiring a procedure of 2.16 (95% CI 1.38-3.37, p = 0.002).

INTERPRETATION

This large-scale study demonstrates prior asbestos exposure is associated with modestly increased risk of post-CABG PE development. The risk association appears higher in patients with assigned clinical codes indicative of radiological evidence of asbestos exposure (pleural plaques or asbestosis). This association may fit with a possible inflammatory co-pathogenesis, with asbestos exposure 'priming' the pleura resulting in greater propensity for PE evolution following the physiological insult of CABG surgery. Further work, including prospective studies and clinicopathological correlation are suggested to explore this further.

Sex differences in risks of in-hospital and late outcomes after cardiac surgery: a nationwide population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Outcomes of sex differences in major cardiac surgery remain controversial. A comprehensive understanding of sex differences in major adult cardiac surgery could provide better knowledge of risk factors, management strategy and short-term or long-term outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate sex differences in the risks of outcomes of major cardiac surgeries and subgroup analyses of different valve types.

DESIGN

Population-based nationwide cohort study.

SETTING

Data were obtained from National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 66 326 adult patients (age ≥20 years; 30.3% women) who underwent a first major cardiac surgery (isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), isolated valve or concomitant bypass/valve) from 2000 to 2013 were identified via Taiwan NHIRD.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcomes of primary interest were in-hospital death and all-cause mortality during follow-up period. Propensity score matching was conducted as a secondary analysis for the sensitivity test.

RESULTS

Women who underwent isolated CABG tended to have greater risks of both in-hospital (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.26 to 1.49) and late outcomes (HR 1.26; 95% CI 1.22 to 1.31). Women after concomitant CABG/valve also had a greater in-hospital (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.40) and long-term mortality (HR 1.14; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.24). Women after isolated mitral valve repair have a non-favourable outcome of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.01 to 2.87). Women who did not receive an isolated aortic valve replacement had more favourable all-cause mortality outcome (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96). Secondary analysis in the propensity score-matching cohort demonstrated results similar to the primary analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Female patients who underwent procedures involving CABG (with or without concurrent valvular intervention) had generally worse outcomes. However, the results of isolated valve surgery were variable on the basis of the type of intervened valve.

Early and mid term mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting in women depends on the surgical protocol: retrospective analysis of 3441 on- and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting procedures

Background

Since 2002 MI and stroke, not cancer, are leading causes of death in women. We studied 30-days and 1 year mortality of 3441 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations in our institution performed either conventionally or off pump (OPCAB). Our objective was to investigate the gender-related mortality in both groups.

Patients and Methods

Between 2004 and 2008, 3441 patients (733 women, 2708 men) underwent CABG. 252 women and 854 men were operated using OPCAB, 481 women and 1854 men using extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Medical data was prospectively entered and retrospectively reviewed. 30-days and one year mortality rates were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models. Linear and logistic regression models were used to test gender differences.

Results

a) 30-day mortality using ECC: 5.2% in women vs. 2.5% in men (p = 0.001). One year ECC mortality: 8.7% in women vs. 4.8% in men (p = 0.0008). b) OPCAB: 30-days and 1 year mortality in women measured 1.7%. Mortality in men was 2.1% after 30 days and 3.7% after one year c) gender specific mortality: 30 days mortality in women was 1.7% using OPCAB and 5.2% using ECC (p = 0.002), one year mortality in women was 1.7% using OPCAB vs. 8.7% using ECC (p = 0.0004). In men, 30-days mortality in OPCAB was 2.1%, one year mortality was 3.7%; using ECC early and late mortality was 2.5% and 4.8%.

Conclusions

Female gender is a strong independent predictor and risk factor of increased early and midterm postoperative mortality rates when ECC is used. OPCAB significantly reduces early and midterm postoperative mortality in women and may therefore be proposed as the preferred revascularization technique in female patients.

Anesthetic issues and anxiety management in the female oral and maxillofacial surgery patient

Gender differences in preoperative anxiety, perioperative pain experience, and physiologic responses to anesthesia exist. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic gender differences in anesthetic drugs are especially significant for propofol and nondepolarizing muscle relaxants. Nonobstetric anesthesia for the pregnant patient is briefly reviewed.