Applying the Gender Lens to Risk Factors and Outcome after Adult Cardiac Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Surgical Outcomes
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Cardiac surgery research increasingly requires a gender lens for comprehensive understanding.
• Integrating sex and gender in research design can enhance cardiovascular science.
• This approach may lead to more effective surgical treatments and cost savings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes in adult cardiac surgery using a gender-based approach.
• To analyze gender-specific comorbidities, economic factors, and research aspects in cardiac surgery.
• To identify gender-related predictors of survival after cardiac procedures.

Main Methods:

• Review of classical cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking) through a gender lens.
• Examination of comorbidities (depression, renal insufficiency, hormonal influences) by gender.
• Analysis of gender-sensitive economic aspects, surgical outcomes, and research perspectives.

Main Results:

• The study reports gender-specific distributions of cardiovascular risk factors and their influence on outcomes.
• A notable gender gap was observed in economic aspects related to cardiac surgery.
• Outcomes after coronary, valvular, and heart transplantation surgeries, including intra-aortic balloon pump use, were analyzed by gender.

Conclusions:

• Female gender is an independent risk factor for survival across most cardiosurgical procedures.
• Severely impaired left ventricular ejection fraction independently predicts survival in men.
• Age independently predicts survival in women undergoing cardiac surgery.