Health Care Costs Lower for Patients Treated by Female Surgeons
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Nov. 30, 2023 -- Health care costs are lower for patients treated by female surgeons versus those treated by male surgeons, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in JAMA Surgery.
Christopher J. D. Wallis, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Toronto, and colleagues examined associations between surgeon sex and costs of surgical care using data from 1.2 million adult patients undergoing one of 25 common elective or emergent surgical procedures from 2007 through 2019.
The researchers found that at the procedure-specific level and when adjusting for patient-, surgeon-, anesthesiologist-, and hospital-level covariates, one-year total health care costs were higher for patients treated by male surgeons ($24,882) versus female surgeons ($18,517; adjusted relative risk, 1.10). At 30 and 90 days, similar patterns persisted (adjusted absolute differences, $3,115 and $4,228, respectively).
"These data further underscore the importance of creating inclusive policies and environments supportive of women surgeons to improve recruitment and retention of a more diverse and representative workforce," the authors write. "Furthermore, they justify work to better understand the personality traits and practice behaviors that underpin these sex-based differences in outcomes. Together, these actions are vital for offering the highest value care for all patients undergoing surgery."
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted November 2023
Read this next
Emergency Inguinal Hernia Surgery Rates Increased With Lower Country Income
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- For patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery, emergency surgery rates increase from high- to low-income countries, according to a study published online...
Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty Has Fewer Complications
WEDNESDAY, May 15, 2024 -- Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) is associated with fewer complications but higher average total cost than conventional TKA (cTKA)...
Anesthesia-Surgery Team Sex Diversity Linked to Improved Postop Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, May 15, 2024 -- Anesthesia-surgery team sex diversity is associated with improved postoperative outcomes, according to a study published online May 15 in the British...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.