K. Ahmed1, M. Shah2, M. Khalid2, M. Bajwa2, F. Mirza3, A. Laghari2, M. Raghib2, N. Jawed2, PBTC2, S. Siddiqi2, S. Enam2 1McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA 2Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan 3University Of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
Introduction:
Gender differences in ageing, physiology, and disease pathology are well-established constituents of medicine. Males have a generally higher cancer prevalence and are less responsive to therapy, with lower overall survival. The greater incidence of brain tumors in males suggests that gender is essential in tumor pathophysiology. However, women are often marginalized and face more significant barriers in healthcare access. They also have a poorer response to some types of brain tumors. In this study, we explore the differences in demographic, surgical, and prognostic characteristics between the two genders in patients with brain tumors in Pakistan.
Methods:
Our study was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients with a histopathological brain tumor diagnosis across 32 high-volume hospitals in Pakistan. The study period was from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. There were no restrictions on inclusion apart from time.
Results:
From 2750 patients enrolled in the study, 1605 (58.4%) were male, and 1142 were female (41.6%). The median age amongst males was 36, while the median age amongst females was 37. The ratio of married to unmarried patients was 2.7:1 for females and 1.3:1 for males. Surgical treatment was carried out for 1430 males (58.1%) and 1013 females (41.9%). The median time to surgery was 25 days for males and 31 days for females. The greatest disparity in tumor malignancy was in grade IV gliomas.
Conclusion:
Males generally have a higher incidence of brain tumors in our experience, apart from meningiomas, which favour females. The mortality rate and glioblastoma incidence rate are both higher amongst males. However, they do see greater improvement post-treatment as well. Sociocultural norms play a prominent role in accessing healthcare. Women are generally at a disadvantage compared to their male counterparts, which may impact reporting of brain tumor cases and treatment outcomes.
