New Study Reveals Gender Disparities in Coronary Artery Calcium Scan Referrals, with Cardiologists Referring Higher-Risk Patients.
A recent study indicates that women in the studied population exhibited higher risk factor markers for atherosclerotic disease compared to men. The research, presented by Ato Howard, also highlighted differences in referral patterns for Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scans based on physician specialty.
The utilization of CAC scans saw a consistent increase across both sexes and referral physician types throughout the study period. However, the annual growth rate slowed between 2017 and 2021, with an uptick observed thereafter. This acceleration is attributed to a rise in patient consultations following guideline changes, increased reimbursement, and the easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Cardiologists, on average, referred patients with higher risk scores for CAC scanning than generalists (2.31 versus 2.02, with a P-value less than 0.001). This trend persisted even when stratifying by sex, as women consistently presented with higher risk than men, irrespective of whether they were referred by a cardiologist (2.35 versus 2.25, P = 0.04) or a generalist (2.13 versus 1.93, P < 0.001).
The precise motivations behind physician referrals remain an area for further inquiry, according to Howard. He suggested that cardiologists might be employing CAC scans to identify patients who are frequently enough overlooked. Additionally, Howard noted that certain female-specific risk factors, such as pregnancy and the timing of menopause, were not accounted for in the study and could possibly explain some of the observed differences in referral patterns.
Howard emphasized that the study successfully identified a discernible difference in referral patterns between physician types, particularly between cardiologists and non-cardiologists. He expressed interest in seeing similar data from other institutions to facilitate comparative analysis.
Ultimately,Howard concluded that the findings underscore the importance of a patient-centered approach to diagnostic testing. He stressed the need for physicians to consider how a test can benefit individual patients and what information it can provide to guide clinical decision-making. The potential exists to improve patient outcomes by accurately identifying those who are most likely to benefit from testing and subsequent treatment,he stated.
