Sobotka L, Hinton A, Conteh L. Women receive more inpatient resections and ablations for hepatocellular carcinoma than men. World J Hepatol 2017; 9(36): 1346-1351 [PMID: 29359018 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v9.i36.1346]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Lanla Conteh, MD, MPH, Director of Hepatology, Hepatobiliary Tumor Program, Director of Hepatology Outreach Program, Section of Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Multidisciplinary Clinic, the James Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 410 W. 10th Street, Columbus, OH 43210, United States. lanla.conteh@osumc.edu
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Retrospective Study
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Sobotka L, Hinton A, Conteh L. Women receive more inpatient resections and ablations for hepatocellular carcinoma than men. World J Hepatol 2017; 9(36): 1346-1351 [PMID: 29359018 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v9.i36.1346]
World J Hepatol. Dec 28, 2017; 9(36): 1346-1351 Published online Dec 28, 2017. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v9.i36.1346
Women receive more inpatient resections and ablations for hepatocellular carcinoma than men
Lindsay Sobotka, Alice Hinton, Lanla Conteh
Lindsay Sobotka, Department of Internal Medicine, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
Alice Hinton, Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
Lanla Conteh, Section of Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Multidisciplinary Clinic, the James Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
Author contributions: Sobotka L, Hinton A and Conteh L contributed equally to this work; Hinton A collected the data and performed statistical analysis; Sobotka L and Conteh L analyzed the data, drafted the manuscript and revised for important intellectual content; Conteh L supervised the study.
Institutional review board statement: The Ohio State University Data and Specimen Policy and Human Subjects Research Policy does not require Institutional Review Board approval for population-based public data sets. Per 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 46.101), research using certain publicly available data sets does not involve “human subjects”.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors have no conflicts of interest.
Data sharing statement: No additional data is available.
Correspondence to: Lanla Conteh, MD, MPH, Director of Hepatology, Hepatobiliary Tumor Program, Director of Hepatology Outreach Program, Section of Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Multidisciplinary Clinic, the James Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 410 W. 10th Street, Columbus, OH 43210, United States. lanla.conteh@osumc.edu
Telephone: +1-614-2931456 Fax: +1-614-2936720
Received: September 10, 2017 Peer-review started: September 22, 2017 First decision: November 3, 2017 Revised: November 14, 2017 Accepted: December 4, 2017 Article in press: December 5, 2017 Published online: December 28, 2017 Processing time: 107 Days and 12.2 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background
Gender disparities have been noted in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), specifically with liver transplantation.
Research motivation
There has been an emphasis on evaluating gender disparities in healthcare; HCC is not an exception. Gender disparities in the treatment for HCC have been noted in the past, specifically in transplantation. Studies reveal that men were more likely to receive a liver transplantation during pre-model for end stage liver disease (MELD) organ allotment, while women were more likely to die while waiting for organ transplantation. Other studies have concluded that women were more likely to receive resection for earlier stage disease.
Research objectives
The aim of this study is to determine if disparities continue to exist despite an emphasis to reduce disparities in healthcare.
Research methods
A retrospective database analysis utilizing the NIS was performed.
Research results
The authors determined that women are more likely to undergo an ablation or resection then men. Disparities in liver transplantation have resolved. Further research should be completed to determine ways to reduce gender disparities in hepatocellular carcinoma given the effect this has on patient mortality and healthcare cost.
Research conclusions
This study shows that a gender difference in the treatment of HCC continues to exist, specifically with resection and ablation. It is important to recognize this disparity and make an effort to reduce this given that interventions are associated with decreased financial burden and lower 30-d mortality rate.
Research perspectives
It is unclear why the previous disparity continues to exist, and further research should be completed to determine the cause and ways to reduce this difference between genders.
