The Impact of Gender on the Postoperative Consumption of Intensive and Intermediate Care Resources
Gender disparities when delivering healthcare are attributed to gender bias and gender-related pathophysiology. We examined the interaction of gender with the provision of postoperative intensive and intermediate care. Specifically whether for major surgeries, co-morbidities and lengths-of-surgery,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-02-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231153044 |
| _version_ | 1811166321655676928 |
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| author | Charles Weissman |
| author_facet | Charles Weissman |
| author_sort | Charles Weissman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gender disparities when delivering healthcare are attributed to gender bias and gender-related pathophysiology. We examined the interaction of gender with the provision of postoperative intensive and intermediate care. Specifically whether for major surgeries, co-morbidities and lengths-of-surgery, women receive intensive and intermediate care as often as men. A two-phase prospective study performed in an Israeli university medical center explored utilization of postoperative intensive/intermediate care. Phase 1 examined gender differences in a broad range of postoperative intensive and intermediate patients. Phase 2 examined consecutive patients undergoing major abdominal and vascular surgeries to ascertain whether for similar surgeries and co-morbidities, women were as likely as men to receive intensive/intermediate care. Phase 1 ( n = 1883)—Proportionately more males were admitted to intensive/intermediate areas because they more often were trauma victims or had pre-existing ischemic heart disease. Female admissions were notable for obstetrical emergencies and post-meningioma excisions. Phase 2 ( n = 796)—The proportion of males and females receiving intensive/intermediate care did not differ after specific surgeries, for example, hepatectomy, carotid endarterectomy. However, among patients with underlying ischemic heart disease men, more often than women (15% vs. 21%, p < 0.05), received intensive care after elective surgery. Although pathophysiologic differences resulted in more men than women, receiving postoperative intensive/intermediate care, gender bias might also be operative. These observations highlight the importance of considering the influence of gender when choosing a postoperative care location to insure that gender differences in the levels of care are due to pathophysiology and not gender bias. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:50:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-415a9eb21a1c4e43ae7295b8d17fca29 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-2440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:50:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-415a9eb21a1c4e43ae7295b8d17fca292023-02-11T14:03:35ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402023-02-011310.1177/21582440231153044The Impact of Gender on the Postoperative Consumption of Intensive and Intermediate Care ResourcesCharles Weissman0Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Hebrew University- Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelGender disparities when delivering healthcare are attributed to gender bias and gender-related pathophysiology. We examined the interaction of gender with the provision of postoperative intensive and intermediate care. Specifically whether for major surgeries, co-morbidities and lengths-of-surgery, women receive intensive and intermediate care as often as men. A two-phase prospective study performed in an Israeli university medical center explored utilization of postoperative intensive/intermediate care. Phase 1 examined gender differences in a broad range of postoperative intensive and intermediate patients. Phase 2 examined consecutive patients undergoing major abdominal and vascular surgeries to ascertain whether for similar surgeries and co-morbidities, women were as likely as men to receive intensive/intermediate care. Phase 1 ( n = 1883)—Proportionately more males were admitted to intensive/intermediate areas because they more often were trauma victims or had pre-existing ischemic heart disease. Female admissions were notable for obstetrical emergencies and post-meningioma excisions. Phase 2 ( n = 796)—The proportion of males and females receiving intensive/intermediate care did not differ after specific surgeries, for example, hepatectomy, carotid endarterectomy. However, among patients with underlying ischemic heart disease men, more often than women (15% vs. 21%, p < 0.05), received intensive care after elective surgery. Although pathophysiologic differences resulted in more men than women, receiving postoperative intensive/intermediate care, gender bias might also be operative. These observations highlight the importance of considering the influence of gender when choosing a postoperative care location to insure that gender differences in the levels of care are due to pathophysiology and not gender bias.https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231153044 |
| spellingShingle | Charles Weissman The Impact of Gender on the Postoperative Consumption of Intensive and Intermediate Care Resources SAGE Open |
| title | The Impact of Gender on the Postoperative Consumption of Intensive and Intermediate Care Resources |
| title_full | The Impact of Gender on the Postoperative Consumption of Intensive and Intermediate Care Resources |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Gender on the Postoperative Consumption of Intensive and Intermediate Care Resources |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Gender on the Postoperative Consumption of Intensive and Intermediate Care Resources |
| title_short | The Impact of Gender on the Postoperative Consumption of Intensive and Intermediate Care Resources |
| title_sort | impact of gender on the postoperative consumption of intensive and intermediate care resources |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231153044 |
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