Impact of Gender on Outcomes Following Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to use a large, nationally representative vascular database to assess differences in patient characteristics, aortic neck anatomy, and outcomes between men and women following open (open aneurysm repair [OAR]) and endovascular (endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR]) abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. METHODS: Patients undergoing AAA repair from 2003 to 2018 in Vascular Quality Initiative were identified and stratified by procedure (EVAR vs OAR). Thirty-day mortality and major in-hospital complications were assessed between genders within each operative cohort. An EVAR subset analysis was performed to assess differences in aortic neck anatomy; hostile neck anatomy was defined as length <15 mm (L < 15), angle >60° (A > 60), and/or diameter >28 mm (D > 28). Standard univariate and multivariable analyses were performed. RESULTS: < .001). Women undergoing EVAR were more likely to undergo aortic extensions (21.9% vs 16.0%) and receive higher contrast volume. After adjusting for potential confounders, female gender was associated with 86% and 50% increased risk of 30-day mortality in OAR and EVAR, respectively. Women were more likely than men to experience renal, cardiac, and pulmonary complications only in the EVAR cohort. Women had a 2-fold increased odds of developing type 1 endoleak. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates unfavorable neck anatomy occurs more frequently in women compared to men. Women were also at an increased risk of developing major complications, particularly following EVAR. Careful patient selection is indicated in all patients to reduce complications, with special attention in women with hostile neck.