Study Finds Lower Mortality Rates for Patients Treated by Female Doctors

A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that patients treated by female physicians have lower mortality rates compared to those treated by male physicians. The study, led by researchers at UCLA, analyzed Medicare claims data from 2016 to 2019 for approximately 458,100 female and 319,800 male patients aged 65 and older.

The findings show that the mortality rate for female patients was 8.15% when treated by female doctors and 8.38% when treated by male doctors. For male patients, the mortality rate was 10.15% when treated by female physicians and 10.23% when treated by male physicians. The study also found a similar pattern for hospital readmission rates, with patients treated by female doctors having lower readmission rates compared to those treated by male doctors.

Why this matters: The study highlights potential gender-based differences in patient outcomes and emphasizes the importance of understanding how male and female physicians practice medicine differently. The findings suggest that increasing the number of female doctors could lead to improved patient care and potentially save thousands of lives each year.

The researchers propose several factors that may contribute to these differences in patient outcomes. They suggest that male doctors may underestimate the severity of illness in female patients, leading to delayed or incomplete care. In contrast, female doctors may communicate better with their female patients, making it more likely that these patients provide important information leading to better diagnoses and treatment.

Dr. Yusuke Tsugawa, the study's senior author, emphasized the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms behind these gender-based differences in patient care. "The differences in practice patterns between male and female physicians, although modest, suggest that female and male physicians impact the quality of medicine differently," Tsugawa noted. "Understanding how and why male and female physicians practice medicine differently may help improve patient outcomes for all patients, irrespective of the physician's gender."

The study's authors also call for eliminating the gender pay gap in the medical field, arguing that having more female physicians would benefit patients. They highlight the need for policies and initiatives that support and encourage women to enter and remain in the medical profession.

The findings of this study are consistent with previous research that found patients operated on by female surgeons are less likely to die or experience complications compared to those whose surgery is performed by male surgeons. While the current study does not suggest that male doctors are less competent, it does indicate potential gendered differences in how doctors interact with and treat their patients, which can have meaningful impacts on patient outcomes.

Key Takeaways

• Patients treated by female physicians have lower mortality rates than those treated by male physicians.
• Patients treated by female doctors also have lower hospital readmission rates compared to those treated by male doctors.
• Potential factors include male doctors underestimating illness severity in female patients and female doctors communicating better.
• Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms behind these gender-based differences in patient care.
• Eliminating the gender pay gap and encouraging more women to enter and remain in medicine could benefit patient outcomes.