A review of 41 studies shows women are often managed with medication while men are more frequently offered invasive procedures or surgery for the same conditions.

Researchers at the University of St Andrews have identified consistent differences in how healthcare systems treat men and women. A review of 41 studies published between 2018 and 2023 found that women are less likely to be offered intensive treatments, such as surgery or strong painkillers, compared to men with the same medical conditions.

Treatment Disparities Across Specialties

The study observed these patterns across cardiology, surgery, transplant medicine, and emergency care. In cardiology, women with heart failure, heart attacks, or tachycardia were more frequently managed with medication rather than invasive procedures like coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention. Similar trends appeared in other fields. Men with Parkinson’s disease were more likely to be referred for deep brain stimulation devices. Additionally, women were less likely to receive a liver transplant or be referred for surgery.

Potential Causes and Future Research

While the researchers noted a consistent trend, the underlying reasons remain unclear. Miriam Veenhuizen, an honorary lecturer at the University of St Andrews, suggested the disparity may stem from the historical under-representation of women in clinical trials, leading to medical guidelines based primarily on data from men. Study co-lead Andrew O’Malley stated that the findings serve as a prompt for clinicians to ensure treatment decisions are based on clinical grounds rather than assumptions. The researchers are calling for further study to determine if these differences represent legitimate clinical variations or broader inequalities.