Are Women at Higher Risk for Isolated Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement? Results From 178,000 STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database Patients
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Female sex is a well-established risk factor for morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery. AIMS: This study aimed to assess the characteristics and contemporary outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in women compared to men. METHODS: All patients who underwent isolated SAVR from 2014 through 2022 were identified using the Society of Thoracic Surgery national database. Patient characteristics were compared between women and men. The primary interest of outcomes was operative mortality. RESULTS: in men, SMD = 1.15). A history of infective endocarditis was more common in men (10.5% vs. 5.4% in women, SMD = 0.19), while women were more likely to undergo annular enlargement (8.4% vs. 2.9% in men, SMD = 0.24). Propensity score matching yielded 33,228 pairs in each sex category. After matching, operative mortality was comparable (2.2% in women vs. 1.7% in men, SMD = 0.04). Likewise, postoperative complications were similarly observed. CONCLUSION: Women undergoing isolated SAVR demonstrated similar morbidity and mortality compared to men despite having smaller body surface area and higher frequency of annular enlargement. Given the improved outcomes with contemporary practice in SAVR, sex may no longer be a risk factor for worse outcomes in isolated SAVR.
DOI: 10.1002/ccd.70188
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,490
Funder: Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Award: G1450839528
OpenAlex ID: W4414254362
