The Actual Cause of Gender Difference after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

Cronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery is a widely practiced procedure among treatments of coronary heart disease. While being able to significantly prolong the life of patients, it is a high-risk procedure characterized by a relatively high 30-day postoperative mortality. The risk and benefits of this procedure have made it to be a focus of research in recent years. Thereinto, research was dedicated to exploring postoperative short-term mortality rate, which is affected by various factors including gender. Based on statistics, a clear pattern is demonstrated that the mortality of women is significantly greater than men. Furthermore, various confounding factors are involved, including preoperative status, physiological difference, and susceptibility for complications. By taking these factors into account, this review aims at establishing the actual cause of gender difference in short-term mortality after CABG. Besides, feasible approaches to lower the overall mortality are proposed, especially by targeting factors that led to the elevated mortality in women. These results will offer a guideline for CABG treatment.