‘Women, black patients face higher post-surgery infection risks’

By : Lazarus Victory

Date: 27 February 2025 4:17am WAT

Sad, sick and a thinking black woman in a hospital bed for healthcare, exam and a surgery. Tired, depression and an African clinic patient in a ward for treatment help, mental health or a virus.

A new study has found that one in five older adults develops an infection within six months after heart surgery, with women and black patients facing significantly higher risks.

The researchers warned that postoperative infections may be vastly underestimated due to limited tracking beyond the immediate recovery period.The research, published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, analyzed thousands of Medicare beneficiaries who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or aortic valve replacement.

The findings revealed that women had a 60 per cent greater chance of developing postoperative infections, with the most common being urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, and sepsis.

Additionally, the study showed racial disparities, with Black patients experiencing 28 per cent infection rates compared to white patients having 19.2 per cent.

Lead author of the study, Dr J’undra Pegues, highlighted the ongoing disparities in patient outcomes, emphasising the need for a multidisciplinary approach to address these issues.

“Our investigations highlight persistent disparities in outcomes for patients undergoing cardiac surgery that will require multidisciplinary efforts to correct,” Pegues stated.

A senior author of the studies and a professor of cardiac surgery, Dr. Donald Likosky, explained that previous studies reported lower infection rates, likely due to their shorter follow-up periods.

He noted that patients who have a heart bypass or valve replacement surgery are at risk for developing other infections that may come about over a longer period, such as UTIs and gastrointestinal infections.

Another co-author, Dr Francis Pagani, emphasised the role of other age-related conditions in increasing infection risks. He explained that age-related health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer, may contribute to later-occurring infections identified in the study.

The researchers stressed the importance of collaboration among healthcare institutions to reduce disparities in patient outcomes. With heart bypass and aortic valve replacement surgeries making up a significant portion of cardiac procedures, researchers urge hospitals to adopt long-term monitoring and improved preventive measures to reduce infection risks, particularly for vulnerable patient groups.