Editor's Choice - Sex Specific Outcomes After Complex Fenestrated and Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair:A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: As females are at higher mortality risk after endovascular aortic repair, this study aimed to compare the 30-day and 12-month mortality, morbidity, and re-intervention rates between the sexes, treated with fenestrated or branched endovascular aortic repair (F/BEVAR).

DATA SOURCES: A search of the English literature, via Ovid, using MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL, up to 30 July 2021, was performed.

REVIEW METHODS: This meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement, and its protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021273418). Observational studies (2010-21), with ≥ 20 patients, reporting on sex specific outcomes (mortality, acute kidney injury [AKI], spinal cord ischaemia [SCI], and re-intervention, after F/BEVAR), were considered eligible. Risk of bias in the studies was assessed using ROBINS-I, and evidence quality was assessed using GRADE. The primary outcome was the sex specific 30-day mortality rate, AKI, SCI, and re-intervention rates; secondary outcomes were survival and freedom from re-intervention at 12 months after F/BEVAR. The outcomes were summarised as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: Four retrospective and one prospective study (2 421 patients; 26% females) were included. The 30-day mortality rate was 12% in females vs. 3% in males (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.79 - 3.92; Ι2 = 0%). The 30-day AKI, SCI, and re-intervention rates were similar (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.03 - 2.03; Ι2 = 0%; OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.27 - 2.74; Ι2 = 38%; and OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.66 - 1.77; Ι2 = 0%, respectively). The 12-month survival rate was lower in females (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91 - 0.99; Ι2 = 38%). When excluding 30-day deaths, there was no difference in 12-month survival between sexes (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.95 - 1.02; Ι2 = 32%). The 12-month freedom from re-intervention was similar between sexes (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.75 - 1.01; Ι2 = 0%).

CONCLUSION: Female patients treated by F/BEVAR may present worse outcomes in terms of 30-day and 12-month survival. The high peri-operative mortality rate remains an issue. When excluding 30-day deaths, the 12-month survival rate was similar between the sexes. Early morbidity and re-intervention rates were comparable.