Gender and carotid endarterectomy: Does it matter?

Objective: Multiple large series have retrospectively identified female gender as a risk factor for perioperative stroke and death after carotid endarterectomy (CFA). Methods: Data for all patients who underwent CEA at a single institution from January 1990 to December 1998 were entered into a computerized vascular registry and form the basis of this report. Results: A total of 1298 CEA procedures were performed, of which 520 (40%) were in women and 778 (60%) in men. The mean age was 69.8 +/- 8.7 years for men and 71.2 +/- 8.5 years for women (P < .001). Cardiac risk factors significantly varied among the two groups, with women more likely to have diabetes (42% vs 36%) and hypertension (77% vs 66%), whereas tobacco history was higher among men (85% vs 71%) (P < .05 for all). Female patients were more likely to be asymptomatic at presentation (men, 44% vs women, 51%; P = .022). Postoperative myocardial infarction occurred in eight patients (0.6%) with no differences between men (0.4%) and women (1.0%) (P = not significant). For all adverse postoperative cardiac events (myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or arrhythmia), the incidence was 1.9% (25 patients), again with no differences between men (1.5%) and women (2.5%) (P = not significant). There were 25 postoperative neurologic events (19 strokes, six transient ischemic attacks) among the entire cohort (1.9%), of which 16 were in men (2.1%) and nine in women (1.6%; P = not significant). The overall postoperative stroke rate was 1.5% (13 [1.7%] of 778 men; 6 [1.2%;] of 520 women; P = not significant). Total operative mortality was 0.3% (3 [0.4%] of 778 men; 1 [0.2%] of 778 women; P = not significant). Late recurrent stenosis requiring operation developed in 14 patients (1.1%) during follow-up (6 [0.8%] of 778 men; 8 [1.5%] of 520 women; P = .19). Conclusions: Although there is significant variability in cardiac risk factors and presentation, female gender is not a risk factor for stroke, death, or cardiac morbidity after CEA. Women are not at higher risk for reoperation for recurrent stenosis.