Women in the United States experience a higher prevalence of many chronic conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, depression, and osteoporosis, than men; they also experience female-specific conditions, such as endometriosis and pelvic floor disorders. A lack of research into both the biological and social factors that influence these conditions greatly hinders diagnosis, treatment, and prevention efforts, thus contributing to poorer health outcomes for women and substantial costs to individuals and for society.

The National Institutes of Health's Office of Research on Women's Health asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene an expert committee to identify gaps in the science on chronic conditions that are specific to or predominantly impact women, or affect women differently, and propose a research agenda. The committee's report presents their conclusions and recommendations.

Table of Contents

Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Why Women Develop Chronic Conditions Differently than Men 3 Methodological Considerations for Studies of Chronic Conditions in Women 4 Impact of Select Chronic Conditions in Women 5 Female-Specific and Gynecologic Conditions 6 Chronic Conditions That Predominantly Impact or Affect Women Differently 7 Chronic Conditions in Women and the Structural and Social Determinants of Health 8 Multiple Chronic Conditions 9 Improving Prevention and Care for Chronic Conditions in Women 10 An Agenda to Advance Research on Chronic Conditions in Women Appendix A: Committee Member and Staff Biographies Appendix B: Open Session Agendas Appendix C: Patient Perspectives and the Lived Experience