Gender differences in coronary artery diameters and survival results after off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) procedures

Background

Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death among men and women. The gender related survival differences following off-pump surgery was the subject of the study with relation to coronary arteries diameters according to sizes of intraluminal shunts applied during surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively collected data of 2,772 patients who were referred for surgical revascularization in our department between 2010 and 2018 with mean follow up period of 76 months. Patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with off-pump technique (OPCAB) with intraluminal shunts application during each anastomosis.

Results

The multivariate Cox’s proportional hazards model revealed male sex as significant all-cause mortality risk factor [hazard ratio (HR) =4.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): (3.12–6.83)]. The survival proportion was significantly lower in male than female (73% vs. 94%; P<0.0001) within 130 months of follow up despite favorable results of coronary artery diameters. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) diameters of coronary arteries measured by shunts applied during off-pump revascularization were 1.81±0.28 vs. 1.7±0.26 mm (P<0.0001) for left anterior descending artery (LAD) anastomosis, 1.78±0.27 vs. 1.71±0.29 mm (P<0.0001) for circumflex artery (Cx) anastomosis and 1.77±0.28 vs. 1.72±0.31 mm (P>0.05) for right coronary artery (RCA) anastomosis in men and women subgroups, respectively.

Conclusions

Female sex is associated with better overall late survival following surgical revascularization despite smaller diameters of coronary arteries in direct measurement with the use of intraluminal shunt application.

Is gender a risk factor for bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting? A twenty-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

Although bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) grafting is associated with improved survival, many surgeons are reluctant to use this technique, especially in female patients, due to its greater complexity and potential increased risk of sternal infection. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of male and female patients who underwent BITA grafting.

METHODS

We evaluated at the early outcome and late mortality, 551 female versus 2525 male patients who underwent isolated BITA grafting between January 1996 and December 2011. To adjust for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, a multivariate risk analysis and propensity score matching were performed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for the entire cohort and for the matched cohort.

RESULTS

Female patients were older and were more likely than males to have congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, and diabetes. Sternal infection was more frequent in females than males (3.3% vs. 1.8%; p = .04). Differences were not observed in operative mortality (2.9% vs. 1.9%; p = .15) and stroke incidence (3.4% vs. 2.6; p = .30). After multivariate risk analysis and propensity score matching, the female gender was not found to be a predictor of worse outcomes. There was no difference in median survival among female and male patients (14.3 and 14.2 years, respectively; p = .68).

CONCLUSION

Our results support the routine use of BITA grafting in proper selected female patients who undergo myocardial revascularization.