University of Sydney Researchers Highlight Research in Public Health (Healthcare-related carbon footprinting-lower impact of a coronary stenting compared to a coronary surgery pathway).

A recent report from the University of Sydney highlights the impact of healthcare on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The researchers used environmentally-extended input-output analysis to compare the carbon footprints of two common care pathways for patients with stable coronary artery disease: coronary stenting and coronary artery bypass surgery. The study found that the carbon footprint associated with the stenting pathway was 4.9 times lower than that of the surgery pathway. These findings suggest that the stenting pathway should be preferred on environmental grounds. The research introduces environmentally-extended input-output analysis as a practical tool for healthcare-related carbon footprinting. [Extracted from the article]