Effect of surgeon gender on postop outcomes

Editor's Note

This Canadian study examines whether surgeon gender is associated with long-term postoperative patient outcomes.

A total of 1,165,711 patients (151,054 treated by female surgeons and 1,014,657 treated by male surgeons) were included in the analysis.

Multivariate adjusted rates of adverse postoperative events (ie, death, readmission, or complication) showed significantly higher rates of adverse outcomes at 90 days and 1 year in patients treated by male surgeons (13.9% vs 25.0%, respectively) compared to those treated by female surgeons (12.5% vs 20.7%, respectively).

Similar patterns, between male and female surgeons, were observed for patient mortality at 90 days (0.8% vs 0.5%) and 1 year (2.4% vs 1.6%), respectively.

To provide the best patient care, healthcare organizations should support female physicians (including surgeons) and learn how they accomplish these improved outcomes, the researchers say.