Mind the gap: Why diagnostic disparities damage women's health

In January this year, McKinsey Health Institute & WEF published their report into the $1 trillion opportunity that removing gender based health disparities offers. When it comes to diagnostics, the discrepancies are stark - and reading the numbers is all but shocking. Women were diagnosed later than men for more than 700 (!) diseases, according to a study conducted in Denmark over more than 20 years. For diabetes, it took women four and a half more years to be diagnosed. For cancer, the difference was two and a half years. Women are 7x more likely than men to have a heart condition misdiagnosed or be discharged during a heart attack. These significant and systematic differences in diagnostics cost women's lives.\r\nWhilst the phallocentric nature of health research and women's barriers to care has, in recent years, been more present in discussions, action to create change has been painstakingly slow. From clinical trials to symptom presentation, women remain underrepresented and underserved, their needs seemingly last in line. What work needs to be done in diagnostics to ensure equitable outcomes for all? And why have we yet to really start it?