Can a relationship between medicines consumption and gender be determined in Malta?

Abstract

For many years, females were under represented in clinical trials and only recently has there been a significant increase in the number and proportion of women who participate in such studies. Major issues about gender differences in the field of medicines revolve around medicines used in cardiovascular and respiratory disease, oncology, liver diseases, and osteoporosis. Various international studies have shown that overall rates of medicine use are significantly higher in males than in females. These studies also found that patterns of medicine use, abuse and/or dependence differ by age group, gender and medicine used. In this paper, an attempt will be made to identify patterns of medicine use between men and women in Malta in some disease areas. Limitations will be highlighted.