Study finds women less likely to receive
A global review of 38 studies reveals women with conditions like heart disease, kidney failure, and Parkinson's are less often offered surgery, stents, or
Women with the same medical conditions as men are less likely to be offered active treatments like surgery, stents, or strong painkillers. This is the conclusion of a new global research review from the University of St Andrews.
The researchers analyzed 38 studies and found that in 33 of them, women were less likely to receive active treatment. The pattern held across several health problems, including cardiovascular conditions, kidney disease, and Parkinson's. The analysis suggests women experience significantly unequal care.
Treatment disparities in heart and kidney care
For cardiovascular issues, the differences were clear. Women with myocardial infarction, heart failure, or an irregular heartbeat were more likely to be given medication. Men with the same conditions were more often offered a coronary bypass, stent, or other surgical intervention. Women were also less likely to be prescribed statins.
In kidney care, female patients requiring dialysis were less likely to be given permanent vascular access. They had to spend longer using a catheter instead.
Gaps in surgery, transplants, and pain management
The disparity extended to other specialties. Men with Parkinson's disease were more likely to be referred for deep brain stimulation. Those with liver failure were more likely to receive a transplant than women. For pain management, women were less likely to be given opioid medications.
The analysis concluded this discrepancy was not due to different clinical guidelines for women's health. None of the reviewed studies identified any guideline recommending different treatment by sex. This raises the question of whether unequal care is a factor.
Dr. Andrew O'Malley, who co-led the study, said the findings should prompt clinicians to check if treatment is being offered on clinical grounds rather than assumption. He noted that doctors more often attribute women's symptoms to anxiety and make more diagnostic errors with female patients, even with positive test results.
Exceptions and political context
For some conditions, the review found no significant gender difference in treatment. These included stroke and diabetes. Women were actually more likely to be treated for dementia.
The findings come amid growing concern about the gender health gap. Earlier this year, the then health secretary, Wes Streeting, said women were being let down by "medical misogyny." The previous government appointed England's first women's health ambassador to help tackle the issue.
Dr. Miriam Veenhuizen, an honorary lecturer at St Andrews, said the consistency of the findings was striking. "The same pattern appeared in cardiology, surgery, transplant medicine and emergency care, and it survived statistical adjustment in most studies," she said.
