White paper
Gender health gap among chronic diseases

Sick earlier, burdened more: New study on the gender health gap among chronic diseases

Women with chronic diseases experience the German healthcare system differently than men: They fall ill earlier, are more frequently affected by complex and intermittent clinical pictures, feel more burdened, and encounter more obstacles in their everyday care. This is shown by a recent study conducted by apo.com Group GmbH in collaboration with the market research institute INNOFACT, for which 2,000 chronically ill people with statutory health insurance were surveyed nationwide.

The results are summarized in the new white paper “Doubly affected: New findings and recommendations for action on the gender health gap in chronic diseases” (in German). They make it clear that the so-called gender health gap has a noticeable impact on the everyday lives of women with chronic illnesses.

Women are affected more often – and feel greater stress

While common diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes mainly affect older men, women are significantly more likely to suffer from depression, migraines, and rarer diseases such as autoimmune diseases – often at an earlier stage in life. In addition, chronic diseases in women are significantly more likely to occur in episodes: 40.4 percent of the women surveyed report a fluctuating course of disease, compared to only 23.7 percent of men.

This limited predictability is reflected in everyday life. Compared to men, women report significantly more difficulties in accessing specialist appointments, perceive their illness as emotionally stressful more often, and feel inadequately supported in their private and professional lives about twice as often.

High level of personal initiative meets structural deficits

At the same time, the study shows that chronically ill women take on an above-average amount of responsibility for managing their own health. They seek out more information about their illness, actively look for guidance on self-management, psychological support, and stress management, and take advantage of preventive care services more often than men.

“The study results reveal a clear discrepancy: women with chronic illnesses are highly committed to their health, but at the same time experience greater burdens in a healthcare system that does not adequately address their needs. We are publishing these results to facilitate fact-based discussions about disparities in care and further development of existing structures to the benefit of women with chronic diseases.”

   Oliver Scheel, CEO of the apo.com Group

Five starting points for gender-equitable healthcare

Based on the study results, the white paper formulates five key recommendations for action. These include:

• • Systematic gender-sensitive diagnosis and care
  • A holistic understanding of health that takes physical and mental stress equally into account
  • More flexible care structures to improve the compatibility of illness, work, and family
  • the expansion and integration of digital healthcare services, and
  • the greater involvement of female patients as active partners in the healthcare system.

The goal is to provide equitable and sustainable healthcare for chronically ill people that systematically takes into account gender-specific disease progression, stress, and care needs.

You can read the complete white paper (in German) here. Please contact us to receive graphic material.

About the study

Quantitative online survey conducted by the apo.com Group in collaboration with the market research institute INNOFACT in April 2025 among 2,000 adults in Germany with statutory health insurance who have at least one medically diagnosed chronic illness treated with medication. All gender-specific differences are statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05).