Introduction

Patient-surgeon sex concordance represents a significant area of research in modern healthcare equity and clinical outcomes. While previous studies in general surgery suggested that sex matching might influence postoperative results, its relevance in specialized fields remains debated. Recently, researchers conducted a large cohort study to investigate how sex matching affects patients undergoing major cardiac procedures.

The Impact of Patient-Surgeon Sex Concordance

The study analyzed 223,065 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting or aortic surgery. Consequently, the research team stratified the data by surgeon and patient sex to identify any independent associations. Interestingly, the findings revealed no significant difference in the incidence of 30-day composite outcomes between concordant and discordant groups. Specifically, the odds ratio for sex discordance was 1.00, indicating that short-term safety remains consistent regardless of the surgeon\'s sex. Furthermore, the interaction between patient sex and sex discordance did not reach statistical significance at the 30-day mark.

Long-Term Observations and Clinical Relevance

However, the researchers noted a slight variation when observing five-year composite outcomes. Notably, the incidence of mortality and morbidity was 67.2% in the male surgeon-male patient group compared to 65.3% in the female surgeon-male patient group. Although these long-term figures show minor differences, the overall impact of patient-surgeon sex concordance in cardiac surgery appears less pronounced than in general surgical cohorts. Therefore, practitioners can reassure patients that high-quality outcomes are achievable across diverse surgeon-patient dyads in the cardiac theater. Moreover, the standardized nature of cardiac protocols may mitigate potential communication or bias factors seen elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does surgeon sex impact short-term cardiac surgery results?

No, current research indicates no independent association between patient-surgeon sex concordance and 30-day mortality or morbidity in adult cardiac surgery.

Are long-term outcomes affected by patient-surgeon sex matching?

While a slight difference was noted at five years, the interaction between patient sex and surgeon sex was not overall significant for long-term composite outcomes.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a professional relationship. Refer to the latest local and national guidelines for clinical practice.

References

Harik L et al. Patient-Surgeon Sex Concordance and Clinical Outcomes After Adult Cardiac Surgery. J Am Heart Assoc. 2026 Apr 09. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.125.048015. PMID: 41954068.

Harik L, Yamamoto K, Kimura T, et al. Patient–Physician Sex Concordance and Outcomes in Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review. Eur Heart J. 2024;45(17):1505-1511.

Wallis CJD, Jerath A, Coburn N, et al. Association of Surgeon-Patient Sex Concordance With Postoperative Outcomes. JAMA Surg. 2022;157(2):146-156.