A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Differences Between Men and Women in Short-term Outcomes Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

We provide an update regarding the differences between men and women in short-term postoperative mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and highlight the differences in postoperative risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and new onset atrial fibrillation. We included 23 studies, with a total of 3,971,267 patients (70.7% men, 29.3% women), and provided results for groups of unbalanced studies and propensity matched studies. For short-term mortality, the pooled odds ratio (OR) from unbalanced studies was 1.71 (with 95% CI 1.69-1.74, I = 0%, p = 0.7), and from propensity matched studies was 1.32 (95% CI 1.14-1.52, I = 76%, p < 0.01). For postoperative stroke, the pooled effects were OR = 1.50 (95% CI 1.35-1.66, I = 83%, p < 0.01) and OR = 1.31 (95% CI 1.02-1.67, I = 81%, p < 0.01). For myocardial infarction, the pooled effects were OR = 1.09 (95% CI = 0.78-1.53, I = 70%, p < 0.01) and OR = 1.03 (95% CI = 0.86-1.24, I = 43%, p = 0.18). For postoperative atrial fibrillation, the pooled effect from unbalanced studies was OR = 0.89 (95% CI = 0.82-0.96, I = 34%, p = 0.18). The short-term mortality risk after CABG is higher in women, compared to men. Women are at higher risk of postoperative stroke. There is no significant difference in the likelihood of postoperative myocardial infarction in women compared to men. Men are at higher risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation after CABG.