Sex Differences in Outcomes Following Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

IMPORTANCE Sex differences in aortic surgery outcomes are commonly reported. However, data on ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) repair outcomes in women vs men are limited. OBJECTIVE To assess differences in perioperative and long-term mortality following rAAA repair in women vs men. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Vascular Quality Initiative database, which prospectively captures information on patients who undergo vascular surgery across 796 academic and community hospitals in North America. All patients who underwent endovascular or open rAAA repair between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2019, were included. Outcomes were assessed up to January 1, 2020. EXPOSURES Patient sex. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Demographic, clinical, and procedural characteristics were recorded, and differences between women vs men were assessed using independent t test and chi(2) test. The primary outcomes were in-hospital and 8-year mortality. Associations between sex and outcomes were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 1160 (21.9%) women and 4148 (78.1%) men underwent rAAA repair during the study period. There was a similar proportion of endovascular repairs in women and men (654 [56.4%] vs 2386 [57.5%]). Women were older (mean [SD] age, 75.8 [9.3] vs 71.7 [9.6] years), more likely to have chronic kidney disease (718 [61.9%] vs 2184 [52.7%]), and presented with ruptured aneurysms of smaller diameters (mean [SD] 68 [18.2] vs 78 [30.2] mm). In-hospital mortality was higher in women (34.4% vs 26.6%; odds ratio, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.25-1.66), which persisted after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and procedural characteristics (adjusted odds ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.12-1.66; P = .002). Eight-year survival was lower in women (36.7% vs 49.5%; hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04-1.50; P = .02). which persisted when stratified by endovascular and open repair. This survival difference existed in both the US and Canada. Variables associated with long-term mortality in women included older age and chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Women who underwent rAAA repair had higher perioperative and 8-year mortality rates following both endovascular and open repair compared with men. Older age and higher rates of chronic kidney disease in women were associated with higher mortality rates. These findings suggest that future studies should assess the reasons for these disparities and whether opportunities exist to improve AAA care for women.

Automated summary

This study aimed to assess the differences in perioperative and long-term mortality rates between women and men who underwent repair for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA). The study found that women had higher mortality rates during hospitalization and at 8-year follow-up, and this difference was observed in both endovascular and open repair. Factors associated with long-term mortality included older age and chronic kidney disease.