Operative Mortality After Type A Aortic Dissection Surgery: Differences Based on Sex and Age.

ABSTRACT

Background: There is controversy regarding sex differences in short-term mortality in acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of sex differences on 30-day operative mortality after ATAAD surgery and to determine if other covariates modify the association. Methods: Consecutive patients (N = 5670) with surgically repaired ATAAD were identified from the multicenter China 5A study. The primary outcome was operative mortality. The age dependency was modeled using a cubic spline curve. Results: There were 1,503 females (26.5%) and 4,167 males (73.5%). Females were older and had a lower percentage of comorbidities compared with males. Females had higher mortality compared to males (10.2% vs 8.2%, P = 0.019); however, there was no difference after propensity analyses (adjusted OR 1.334 [95% CI 0.918-1.938]). There was an interaction with sex and age (P interaction = 0.035) older age was associated with higher odds of operative mortality among females (OR 1.045 [95% CI 1.029-1.061]) compared with males (OR 1.025 [95% CI 1.016-1.035]). The risk of mortality for males and females appears to diverge at 55 years of age (P interaction = 0.019) females under 55 years of age had similar odds to males (OR 0.852 [95% CI 0.603-1.205]) but higher odds when over 55 years (OR 1.420 [95% CI 1.096-1.839]) compared to males. Conclusions: Under the age of 55 years, females have similar odds of operative mortality compared with males; however, over the age of 55 years females have higher odds than males. Understanding differences in risk allows for individualized treatment strategies. (Additive Anti-inflammatory Action for Aortopathy & Arteriopathy; NCT04398992).