But a lack of research on women’s health “prevents a comprehensive understanding of the impact on women” of these and other chronic diseases, the report’s authors write. More research is needed, especially for black women, who are more likely to die from chronic disease than white women, the study says.
The 500-page report calls for focused NIH-led efforts to improve diagnostic tools for female-specific conditions such as endometriosis and to differentiate the overlapping symptoms of various chronic conditions.
Farida Sohrabjee, one of the report’s authors, said she hoped the paper would guide urgent research priorities.
“One of the biggest disappointments is how often we [saw] Examples of women’s research not incorporating women’s experiences and symptoms are undervalued or not given enough attention,” said Sohrabji, director of women’s health in the neuroscience program at Texas A&M University. “One of the things that comes up frequently is that [women] They know that their health is sometimes not given the proper consideration, and that their experience of pain is minimized.”
Emphasizing the importance of addressing racial, ethnic and socio-economic disparities, Sohrabjee said the experiences of white women and women of color differ sharply, but are underrepresented in research.
The report underscores the impact of biological and social factors on the diagnosis and management of chronic conditions, while addressing research gaps related to female-specific and gynecologic conditions and the influence of social determinants of health on chronic conditions.
Experts highlight the need for improved diagnostic tools tailored to women’s chronic conditions, citing distinct differences in how women and men manifest symptoms, such as heart disease and diabetes. Experts say women’s diseases can be unique when using tools designed primarily for male patients.
A 2019 Research letter published in JAMA NIH awards more research money to first-time male assistants than to their female counterparts. The letter argued that federal research funding is related to the quality of science and career advancement.
“If there is one thing that affects most men [some of the diseases that affect] “Women, if we know exactly what’s causing it, then we’ll have more treatments and diagnoses,” he said Karen Tangis a gynecologist and author not involved in the report.
