Women's Health Highlights: Recent Findings

Women's Health Highlights: Recent Findings
Program Brief

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This program brief summarizes findings from a cross-section of AHRQ-supported research projects focusing on women's health topics published January 2006 through December 2009.

Select to download print version PDF File (4.6 MB / 24 pages). PDF Help.
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/womenh.pdf

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Contents
Introduction
Cardiovascular Disease
Cancer Screening and Treatment
Reproductive Health
Chronic Illness and Care
Health Impact of Violence Against Women
Health Care Costs and Access to Care
Health Care Quality and Safety
Women and Medications
Data Sources for Gender Research

Introduction
At the beginning of the 20th century, U.S. women were most likely to die from infectious diseases and complications of pregnancy and childbirth. In 2006, the chronic conditions of heart disease, cancer, and stroke accounted for 55 percent of American women's deaths, and they continue to be the leading causes of death for both women and men.

Women have a longer life expectancy than men, but they do not necessarily live those extra years in good physical and mental health. On average, women experience 3.1 years of reduced physical functioning at the end of life, and in 2008, 14 percent of women aged 18 and older who were surveyed said they were in fair or poor health.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) supports research on all aspects of health care provided to women, including:

•Enhancing the response of the health system to women's needs.
•Understanding differences between the health care needs of women and men.
•Understanding and eliminating disparities in health care.
•Empowering women to make well-informed health care decisions.

This summary presents findings from a cross-section of AHRQ-supported research projects on women's health published January 2006 through December 2009. An asterisk (*) at the end of a summary indicates that reprints of an intramural study or copies of other publications are available from the AHRQ Clearinghouse.

Go to the last page of this brief to find out how you can get more detailed information on AHRQ's research programs and funding opportunities.



full-text:
Women's Health Highlights: Recent Findings