Gender differences in abdominal aortic aneurysm therapy - a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Medical Research
• Gender Health Disparities

Background:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) affects both genders, but treatment outcomes may differ.
• Understanding gender-specific differences in AAA therapy is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze gender-specific differences in the prevalence, treatment, and outcomes of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• To identify factors contributing to potential disparities in AAA therapy between men and women.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of Medline (PubMed) from January 1999 to January 2018.
• Keywords included "abdominal aortic aneurysm", "gender", "prevalence", "EVAR", and "open surgery of abdominal aortic aneurysm".

Main Results:

• Women exhibit higher complication rates and longer hospitalizations for both open and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
• A majority of studies indicate lower survival rates for women undergoing elective and emergency AAA interventions.
• Women appear to receive less surgical/interventional and protective medical treatment compared to men.

Conclusions:

• Women face a higher risk of rupture and poorer survival rates for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• Gender disparities in AAA outcomes may stem from age, comorbidity, genetic, hormonal, anatomical, biological, and socio-cultural factors.
• Optimizing treatment strategies for female patients is essential to improve outcomes.