Sex Disparities in Patient Satisfaction in Cardiac Surgery Patients

Although differences between males and females in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases are well recognized, there is a paucity of studies evaluating the impact of sex on the perception and satisfaction of cardiovascular care. The purpose of this study is to evaluate potential sex-based disparities in patient experiences with their postoperative care after cardiac surgery. Responses from Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems surveys from patients who underwent open cardiac surgery at a single institution were compared based on sex. Propensity-score matching was performed based on age, race, and type of operation. Answers to survey items were compared between male- and female-matched cohorts. Female patients gave lower overall hospital rankings than their male counterparts (P = .005). Female patients also gave lower scores for questions regarding room cleanliness (P = .02), staff working together (P = .01), and health management education for discharge (P = .02) compared to male patients. Our study demonstrates that there is a disparity in patient satisfaction between males and females among patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Females undergoing cardiac surgery report worse experiences than their male counterparts.