According to a report released on Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women are more prone than men to not adhere strictly to prescribed medication regimens, often due to financial constraints, resulting in skipping doses, delaying treatment, or taking lower doses.
The CDC’s National Health Interview Survey revealed that in 2021, around 9.2 million adults aged 18 to 64 (about 1 in 10) reported cost-related medication nonadherence. Women had a higher rate of nonadherence (9.1%) than men (7%).
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“I wasn’t surprised,” commented Robin Feldman, a pharmaceutical and intellectual property law expert from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Feldman, who was not part of the survey, expressed disheartenment, highlighting that women continue to bear a greater responsibility for childcare and household management. Consequently, they may prioritize their health lower due to financial or time constraints.
Stacie Dusetzina, a health policy professor at Vanderbilt University, suggested that the gender gap in medication nonadherence could be attributed to women under 65 typically taking more medications or being more likely to be on medication than men. Additionally, Dusetzina mentioned that lower income levels among women could also contribute.
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The CDC reported that over half of U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 take prescription drugs. The survey found that adults with disabilities, individuals in fair or poor health, those without insurance, and Black/nonwhite Hispanic adults were more likely to skip, delay, or take less medication due to cost.
According to Feldman, further actions are necessary. Mark Cuban launched the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co. to provide discounted prices for certain generic drugs. Additionally, California has announced its intention to produce affordable insulin in collaboration with Civica Rx, a nonprofit generic drug company.