Does the operator's sex matter? An analysis based on the national interventional cardiology registry.

BACKGROUND

A small number of female cardiologists work in the field of interventional cardiology. Such disparity is observed in most European countries.

AIMS

We present the first national report on the practice patterns and outcomes regarding percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed by female operators (FOs) in Poland.

METHODS

Data were collected from the National Registry of Invasive Cardiology Procedures (Ogólnopolski Rejestr Procedur Kardiologii Inwazyjnej [ORPKI]) between January 2014 and December 2017.

RESULTS

A total of 31 FOs (4.1%) performed 12 935 PCIs (2.8%). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of PCIs performed by FOs per year was 75 (43-154), whereas that by male operators was 139 (67-216; P <0.01). Patients handled by FOs were characterized by a lower prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and previous coronary artery interventions. Acute coronary syndrome was the main indication for treatment (74.66%). Compared with male operators, FOs handled significantly more patients with single‑vessel disease (87.02% vs 84.72%; P <0.001). They used smaller contrast doses during PCIs (median [IQR], 170.36 [77.54] cm3 vs 173.48 [77.54] cm3; P <0.001) yet higher doses of radiation exposure (median [IQR], 843 [472-1409] mGy vs 815 [458-1390] mGy; P = 0.01). There was no difference in clinical outcomes (a composite of all‑cause death, bleeding at the puncture site, or coronary artery perforation) associated with the operator's sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Women represent a minority of operators in interventional cardiology and are responsible for a low percentage of PCIs. Nonetheless, the practice patterns and outcomes of PCIs performed by FOs are similar to those of male operators.