The Role of Gender in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Complex Disorders [CC]

Dr. Laura Pace discusses the significant gender bias in diagnosing and treating complex disorders that are prevalent in women, such as POTS, EDS, and MCAS. Her talk highlights that women are often misdiagnosed with psychological conditions rather than receiving appropriate evaluations for disorders like dysautonomia. This results in prolonged diagnostic times and treatment delays, adversely affecting their quality of life. Dr. Pace describes her work at the University of Utah's Multidisciplinary Clinic, aiming to improve diagnostic rates and care for EDS patients, revealing that such conditions are likely underdiagnosed. Her findings also indicate a pressing need for more recognition and research on these conditions to better understand and manage the associated disease burden. There is a call for change in the healthcare system to reduce gender bias and improve outcomes for these predominantly female disorders.