Women less likely than men to receive active treatment for major health conditions

Women with heart, kidney, or liver conditions are less likely to be offered interventions such as surgery, stents or potent painkillers than men with the same diagnoses, a global review of medical literature has shown. The analysis, which examined studies across several disease categories—including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and Parkinson’s disease—found a consistent pattern of gender disparity in treatment recommendations.

The review highlighted that, for many conditions, women were less frequently recommended for procedures or medications that are routinely offered to men. This gap suggests that women may receive sub‑optimal care, potentially affecting outcomes and quality of life. The findings underscore the need for clinicians and health systems to address gender bias in treatment decisions and ensure equitable access to evidence‑based interventions.