GENDER GAPS DISCOVERED IN OVERALL

USE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, ADHERENCE PATTERNS AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

Women are prescribed more drugs than men, but aren’t getting what they need

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2012) – Women use more prescription drugs than men; yet
they are not prescribed proper amounts. In a new study presented at Women's Health
2012: The 20th Annual Congress by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. and the Society for
Women's Health Research (SWHR), women are prescribed more drugs than men, have
poorer adherence rates to using the drugs than men, and, perhaps most surprisingly, lag
behind men in receiving the appropriate drugs for their documented diseases.

Historically, clinical trials have included predominantly men, but medications affect men
and women differently. Because sex differences in prescription drug absorption,
metabolism and dosage have not been properly researched, women may be left to suffer
the consequences.

“To adequately bridge the gender gap in medication management, we need to emphasize
more research on women from the very beginning of the drug discovery process,” said
Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, President and CEO of SWHR. "Research studies need to include
women in all trials to determine why women’s adherence to and experience with
medication trails behind men’s.”

According to the new study, which included almost 30 million Medco prescription and
insurance claims records, gender differences were found in overall prescription drug use,
adherence patterns and disease management. For cardiovascular disease (CVD) and
diabetes, women showed poorer outcomes than men in 25 out of 25 clinical measures.
Usage patterns showed that 68 percent of women in the study took at least one medication
over the one year study period compared to 59 percent of men. Women also took an
average of five drugs, compared to less than four (3.7) drugs for men. Most importantly,
only 59% of women with documented CVD were prescribed appropriate guidance-based
treatment.

This landmark study shows that gender-specific dosing is desperately needed in modern
medicine. SWHR has long advocated for sex-specific dosing research and guidance on all
drugs to prevent harmful reactions in women and to improve their overall health.

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