A pioneering initiative with significant implications for advancing women’s health in cardiac surgery has just launched.
The ROMA Women research study marks a historic milestone as the first-ever randomised trial exclusively recruiting female participants.
Led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre in the UK, the initiative evaluates the effectiveness of multiple arterial bypass grafts compared to the conventional practice of using multiple veins in coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) among women.
Women undergoing heart surgery encounter unique challenges due to factors such as advanced age and a higher prevalence of pre-existing conditions, as highlighted by experts at the University of Leicester.
Despite the potential for improved long-term outcomes associated with multiple arterial bypass grafts, women typically do not receive this treatment.
Professor Gavin Murphy, leading the ROMA Women study, emphasised the critical necessity for gender-specific research in cardiac surgery.
He pointed out the scarcity of comprehensive evidence guiding treatment decisions for women, given the distinct patterns of coronary artery disease and presentation of comorbidities compared to men.
Professor Murphy noted that women often receive vein bypass grafts from the legs, which have shorter lifespans than arterial bypass grafts from the chest wall and arm.
The trial aims to provide conclusive evidence on the optimal type of bypass grafts for women, enabling clinicians to deliver tailored interventions for superior long-term outcomes.
Judith Knox (pictured), the inaugural participant of the ROMA Women trial, recently underwent heart surgery at the University Hospitals of Leicester.
She will be monitored and seen between 2 and 12 weeks and then at six-month intervals for the next five years. Further follow-ups for up to 12 years will take place, and her health and wellbeing will be reviewed.
This will serve as a crucial benchmark for the study’s outcomes.
She said: ‘Recovery has been very tiring, and it’s been difficult to sleep, but I’m feeling better every day. I’m looking forward to hearing more about what they discover in the trial in the future. It feels good to be part of it.’
Professor Murphy expressed optimism regarding the ROMA Women trial’s transformative potential in enhancing women’s cardiac care.
As the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Chair of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Leicester, his dedication underscores the urgency of addressing gender disparities in cardiovascular research and treatment protocols.
The ROMA Women study signifies a significant step towards rectifying the historical underrepresentation of women in cardiac surgery trials, ushering in a new era of gender-sensitive healthcare interventions.
