Women offered less invasive or intensive treatment than men with the same conditions
HealthYahoo News Australia

Women offered less invasive or intensive treatment than men with the same conditions

A new study found women are consistently offered less surgery and fewer strong painkillers than men with the same conditions, across heart, liver and brain care.

Women are less likely than men to be offered invasive or intensive treatments, such as surgery or strong painkillers, for the same medical conditions, a new study has found.View on euronews

The Long Sip
What happened

A University of St Andrews review of 41 studies found women are consistently offered less intensive treatment than men with the same medical conditions.

The detail

The pattern showed up across cardiology, surgery, transplant medicine and emergency care, including lower rates of bypass surgery and liver transplants for women.

What it means

Researchers say women were under-represented in clinical trials for decades, meaning many treatment guidelines were built on data from men, and they are calling for further research.

For you

Researchers say the gap likely stems from women being under-represented in clinical trials, so it is worth asking your doctor to explain why a particular treatment was or was not recommended for you.

Full story at Yahoo News Australia

What readers are saying

WaggawaggaNoelene
The detail about women with heart conditions being managed with medication instead of procedures like coronary artery bypass is telling - it suggests caution being mistaken for care. If guidelines rest on trial data from mostly men, then women aren't getting treated according to what works for their bodies, they're getting treated according to what worked for someone else's. 🌿
IranianAusFarah
The study analysed 41 papers from 2018-23, but did any of those papers actually measure patient outcomes to show whether conservative treatment was genuinely better or worse for women?

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