title: Sex differences in patient and procedural characteristics and early outcomes following cardiac surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether women undergoing cardiac surgery are more likely to suffer postoperative complications and mortality than men with respect to baseline and procedural characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 4030 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery between January 2007 and June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed; 3075 isolated CABGs (CABG-group) and 955 aortic valve replacements (AVR) whether or not in combination with CABG (VALVE-group) The total study population, had a mean age 69.6 ±10.3 years, and there were 1073/4030 women (26.6%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female patients were older (P=0.001), at higher EuroSCORE risk (P=0.001) and have a higher BMI (P=0.001). In the CABG-group female patients receive fewer distal anastomoses (P=0.001) and arterial grafts were less frequently used (P=0.002). In the combined procedures in women less distal anastomoses were applied (P=0.029). Postoperative female CABG patients have a higher hospital mortality (P=0.031) and early mortality (P=0.019). In the VALVE group there is no difference in hospital or early mortality between both genders. Binary logistic regression did not identify female gender as an independent risk factor for hospital- or early mortality in both patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although female patients undergoing cardiac surgery are older and at higher risk, female gender is not an independent risk factor. The operative procedure and gender related differences in treatment may be important and affect the outcome.
authors: Department of Cardio‑Thoracic Surgery - 677, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen The Netherlands - luc.noyez@radboudumc.nl.
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Trienekens
authors: A H
authors: AH
authors: Maas
authors: S T
authors: ST
authors: Timman
authors: H A
authors: HA
authors: Van Swieten
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Noyez
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome