Gender Differences in Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Adults with Established Cardiovascular Disease

This cross-sectional analysis used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) 2010–2016 to examine gender differences in patient-reported outcomes — including health-related quality of life, patient-provider communication, and care satisfaction — among 21,353 U.S. adults with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Women with ASCVD reported lower health-related quality of life, worse physical and mental functioning, and less satisfaction with patient-provider communication than men, after adjusting for age, comorbidities, income, and insurance status. Communication gaps were particularly prominent: women were less likely to report being involved in treatment decisions and more likely to report that providers did not always listen carefully.

The findings document a persistent patient experience gap that exists independently of disease severity measures. Communication quality influences adherence, treatment uptake, and outcomes — and if women with ASCVD receive worse communication from their providers, this is a plausible mechanism contributing to the worse outcomes and lower rates of evidence-based therapy documented in other datasets.

The cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and the survey data are patient-reported. However, the large sample and consistent pattern across outcome domains add credibility.

We rate the evidence moderate-limited. A large survey-based cross-sectional analysis documenting gender disparities in patient experience in established ASCVD — relevant for patient advocacy and health equity, though limited in clinical specificity.