Report reveals major gaps in research on chronic conditions in women

Significant gaps in what is known about chronic conditions that are specific to women hinder diagnosis, treatment and prevention, a new report has shown.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report found that women are disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses and urged government agencies to do more to better understand chronic conditions in women.

The study noted that women in the US experience a higher prevalence of chronic conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, depression and osteoporosis, than men, while also being impacted by female-specific conditions, such as endometriosis and pelvic floor disorders.

Although women on average live longer, chronic diseases diminish their quality of life for years when compared with men, the analysis showed.

A lack of research into both the biological and social factors that influence these conditions hinders diagnosis, treatment and prevention efforts, leading to poorer health outcomes and substantial costs to individuals and for society, the report also suggested.

“Advances in our understanding of conditions like Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and even chronic pain have largely been shaped by research focused on men,” said Eve Higginbotham, chair of the committee that wrote the report, and professor and former vice dean for inclusion, diversity and equity of Penn Medicine.

“At best, this means we don’t fully understand how these conditions affect women — but at worst, it can mean a misdiagnosis, medical error, or inappropriate treatment.

“This is not the first report from the National Academies to assert that women’s health is understudied. It is long overdue for federal agencies to intentionally commit to a new research agenda that will finally improve our understanding of chronic conditions in women.”

Victor J. Dzau, president of the National Academy of Medicine, added: “It is clear that the status quo in research on chronic conditions in women is not acceptable, as it is not meeting patients’ needs and is holding back efforts to achieve health equity.

“Enhanced research efforts would improve diagnosis and care, and spur a wave of new advances in areas of women’s health that have been chronically underfunded and ignored.”

The report recommended NIH and other federal agencies pursue research in areas where there are significant knowledge gaps.

It said research should include developing diagnostic tools for chronic conditions such as endometriosis or where there are clear differences in how women symptomatically present versus men.

Research should also seek tools that can better distinguish between chronic conditions that share symptoms, for example between chronic pain and fibromyalgia, it added.