Association between surgeon sex and long-term postoperative outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Ana Luíza Rocha Soares Menegat, Brenda Luana Rocha Soares Menegat, Luciana Zanchetta Pistore et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis compared long-term postoperative outcomes among patients treated by female versus male surgeons. Four studies included 3,467,096 patients. Treatment by female surgeons was associated with lower odds of 90-day mortality (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77-0.93; p = 0.0097), 90-day readmission (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93-0.97; p < 0.0001), and one-year readmission (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.98; p < 0.0001). The analysis found no significant differences in one-year mortality or postoperative complications.
Key findings
- Patients treated by female surgeons had lower odds of 90-day mortality (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77-0.93; p = 0.0097).
- The odds of 90-day readmission were lower with female surgeons (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93-0.97; p < 0.0001).
- One-year readmission odds were also lower (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.98; p < 0.0001).
- No significant differences were observed in one-year mortality or postoperative complications.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that surgeon sex may be associated with differences in mortality and readmission beyond the short-term outcomes previously considered. These pooled results can inform research into variation in surgical care and outcomes, but they do not establish why the associations occur or show that surgeon sex itself causes them.
What to keep in mind
The meta-analysis included only four studies, and the abstract does not establish that the observed associations are causal. Evidence for other longer-term outcomes was inconclusive.