Gender Differences in the Outcomes of Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Percutaneous Mechanical Circulatory Support

There is evidence for the lower use of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) in women. We aimed to determine (1) whether gender differences exist regarding in-hospital mortality, hospital course, and procedures; (2) whether socio-demographic and treatment-related factors were associated with these differences. Using the National Inpatient Sample, we collected the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for cardiogenic shock (CS) because of acute myocardial infarction AMI or acutely decompensated advanced heart failure and included intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella or Tandem Heart percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVADs), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Demographics, co-morbidities, in-hospital course and procedures were recorded, and the Charlson Co-morbidity Index was calculated. Multivariable hierarchical logistic regression analysis and additional sensitivity analyses were performed. We identified 376,116 cases of CS because of acute myocardial infarction or acutely decompensated advanced heart failure, of which 113,305 required pMCS. Women were more likely to be older, non-White, insured by Medicare, and have a higher burden of co-morbidities and higher Charlson Co-morbidity Index. pMCS devices were inserted in 35,516 women (24.9%) and 77,789 men (33.3%). Women were less likely to receive pVAD or pulmonary artery (PA) catheters. Blood transfusions and acute respiratory failure were more common in women than men. Women had 15% higher in-hospital mortality and in a multivariate analysis, women, older age, having no insurance, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, longer time to pMCS insertion, receiving PA catheter, pVAD or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and having cardiac arrest were associated with higher in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, women requiring pMCS support had a higher co-morbidity load, in-hospital mortality, acute respiratory failure, blood transfusions, and lower PA catheter use. Studies addressing early gender-specific interventions in CS are needed to reduce these differences.