Impact of Sex Difference on Early Postoperative Outcomes in Elderly Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Are Women Really More Unfortunate Than Men?

BACKGROUND We aimed to examine whether sex difference affected early postoperative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 328 elderly patients (≥70 years) undergoing elective isolated OPCAB surgery between January 2013 and December 2020 were included in this retrospective observational cohort study and divided into 2 groups according to sex: women group (n=102) and men group (n=226). The groups were compared in terms of preoperative basic clinical characteristics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outcomes and complications. RESULTS Mean ages were 73.6 and 73.8 years in women and men, respectively. Women were significantly shorter and had a lower smoking rate. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of other preoperative clinical characteristics and comorbidities. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of intraoperative data. The comparision of postoperative outcomes and complications showed women had significantly longer durations of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays, and a significantly higher rate of wound infection. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of other postoperative outcomes, complications, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated for the first time in the literature that although women had significantly longer durations of ICU and hospital stays and a higher rate of wound infection, sex difference did not significantly affect major early postoperative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing OPCAB surgery.