Gender disparities in brain tumours: A Pakistan brain tumour epidemiology study analysis

Authors

  • Mashal Murad Shah The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Muhammad Usman Khalid The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Mohammad Hamza Bajwa The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Farhan A Mirza University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA
  • Saad bin Anis  Shaukat Khanum Cancer Memorial Hospital, Lahore
  • Naveed Zaman Akhunzada Rehman Medical Institute, Hayatabad, Peshawar,Pakistan
  • Altaf Ali Laghari  Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Faraz Raghib  The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Sameen Siddiqi The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan
  • Syed Ather Enam  The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.11-S4-AKUB13

Abstract

Objective: To explore the differences in demographic, surgical, and prognostic characteristics between the two genders in patients with brain tumours in Pakistan.

Methods: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients with a histopathological brain tumour 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 (41.6%) were female . The median age amongst males was 36 (24-49), while the median age amongst females was 37 (24-48).  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 (58.1%) males and 1013 (41.9%) females. The median time to surgery was 25 (4-107) days for males and 31 (5-98) days for females. The greatest disparity in tumour malignancy was in grade IV gliomas.

Conclusion: Males generally have a higher incidence of brain tumours in our experience, apart from meningiomas, which favour females. The mortality rate and glioblastoma incidence rate are both higher amongst males. However, post-treatment cure is also witnessed. 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 tumour cases and treatment outcomes.

Keywords:  Brain neoplasms, Epidemiology, Gender equity, Retrospective study.

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Published

2022-12-15

How to Cite

Mashal Murad Shah, Muhammad Usman Khalid, Mohammad Hamza Bajwa, Farhan A Mirza, Saad bin Anis , Naveed Zaman Akhunzada, Altaf Ali Laghari , Muhammad Faraz Raghib , Sameen Siddiqi, & Syed Ather Enam . (2022). Gender disparities in brain tumours: A Pakistan brain tumour epidemiology study analysis. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 72(11), S79-S85. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.11-S4-AKUB13

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