Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32392499›Full record

ArticleCMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne2020

Relation between surgeon age and postoperative outcomes: a population-based cohort study.

Raj Satkunasivam, Zachary Klaassen, Bheeshma Ravi, Kai-Ho Fok, Terri Menser, Bita Kash, Brian J Miles, Barbara Bass, Allan S Detsky, Christopher J D Wallis

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

27 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Physician Age and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review.Journal of general internal medicine · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Surgeon confidence in planning total shoulder arthroplasty improves after consulting a clinical decision support tool.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2023
    Guideline
  3. Teaching heart valve surgery techniques using simulators: a systematic review.Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie
    Pooled it
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  7. Mind the Gap: The Journey of Skull Base Specialties Toward Gender Parity.Journal of neurological surgery. Part B, Skull base · 2025
    Article
  8. On Patient Safety: The Weekend Effect.Clinical orthopaedics and related research · 2025
    Article
  9. The Association Between Online Surgeon Ratings and Patients' Postoperative Outcomes in the United States.Annals of surgery open : perspectives of surgical history, education, and clinical approaches · 2025
    Article
  10. Article
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  13. Superstition in Surgery: A Population-Based Cohort Study to Assess the Association Between Surgery on Friday the 13th and Postoperative Outcomes.Annals of surgery open : perspectives of surgical history, education, and clinical approaches · 2024
    Article
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  19. Devaluing babies: neonatal implications of proposed changes in pediatric residency training.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2023
    Article
  20. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

  • Commented on by
    2020
5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Raj SatkunasivamDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. raj.satkunasivam@gmail.com.
Zachary KlaassenDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Bheeshma RaviDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Kai-Ho FokDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Terri MenserDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Bita KashDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Brian J MilesDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Barbara BassDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Allan S DetskyDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Christopher J D WallisDepartment of Urology (Satkunasivam, Miles) and Center for Outcomes Research (Satkunasivam, Menser, Kash, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Division of Urology (Klaassen), Medical College of Georgia - Augusta University, Augusta, Ga.; Division of Orthopedic Surgery (Ravi), Department of Surgery, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Centre, and Division of Urology (Fok, Wallis), Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Health Policy and Management (Kash), School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station Tex.; Department of Surgery (Menser, Bass), Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Department of Medicine (Detsky), University of Toronto; Department of Medicine (Detsky), Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Urology (Wallis), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAging may detrimentally affect cognitive and motor function. However, age is also associated with experience, and how these factors interplay and affect outcomes following surgery is unclear. We sought to evaluate the effect of surgeon age on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing common surgical procedures.

methodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing 1 of 25 common surgical procedures in Ontario, Canada, from 2007 to 2015. We evaluated the association between surgeon age and a composite outcome of death, readmission and complications. We used generalized estimating equations for analysis, accounting for relevant patient-, procedure-, surgeon- and hospital-level factors.

resultsWe found 1 159 676 eligible patients who were treated by 3314 surgeons and ranged in age from 27 to 81 years. Modelled as a continuous variable, a 10-year increase in surgeon age was associated with a 5% relative decreased odds of the composite outcome (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92 to 0.98,

interpretationWe found that increasing surgeon age was associated with decreasing rates of postoperative death, readmission and complications in a nearly linear fashion after accounting for patient-, procedure-, surgeon- and hospital-level factors. Further evaluation of the mechanisms underlying these findings may help to improve patient safety and outcomes, and inform policy about maintenance of certification and retirement age for surgeons.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsCognitionFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedPopulation SurveillancePostoperative ComplicationsRetrospective StudiesSurgeons

Identifiers

PMID32392499
PMCPMC7162435

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.