The committee finds that major progress has been made in reducing mortality for women from breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and cervical cancer. This can be attributed in part to increased consumer demand and awareness, which has resulted in additional funding and research; improved diagnosis; screening and treatment; and, in the case of cervical cancer, a vaccine.

More limited advances have been made in depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis, the committee finds. Few advances have been made in reducing unintended pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, maternal morbidity and mortality, alcohol and drug addiction, lung cancer, gynecological cancers other than cervical cancer, non-malignant gynecological disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease.

The committee has observed that there have been fewer advances in research investigating non-fatal diseases that result in major morbidity for women, despite the high value women place on quality of life as well as longevity. Therefore, the committee recommends that research include greater attention to assessing quality of life — for example, functional status or functionality, mobility, or pain — and promoting wellness. As part of this effort, research should include the development of better measures to compare effects of health conditions, interventions, and treatments on quality of life for women.

Is Women’s Health Research Studying the Most Relevant Groups of Women?

While investments in women’s health research have led to decreased rates of female mortality from some diseases, that progress has not been enjoyed equally by women from all population groups in the US. Large disparities in disease burden remain among groups of women. Women who are socially disadvantaged because of their race or ethnicity, income level, or educational attainment have been underrepresented in many studies and have not benefited as much from the progress in women’s health research.

The IOM committee recommends that NIH, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention develop targeted initiatives to increase research on the populations of women with the highest risks and burdens of disease.

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