Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024 Nov;9(11):1041-1051.doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(24)00159-6.

Vibeke Andersen ¹, Jessica Pingel ², Heidi Lynge Søfelt ², Zainab Hikmat ², Mads Johansson ³, Vera Slyk Pedersen ⁴, Benthe Bertelsen ⁴, Anne Carlsson ⁵, Marie Lindh ⁶, Edda Svavarsdóttir ⁷, Dirk Repsilber ⁸, Maiken Thyregod Joergensen ⁹, Robin Christensen ¹⁰, Anja Fejrskov ¹¹, Johannes David Füchtbauer ¹², Jens Kjeldsen ¹³, Michael Dam Jensen ¹⁴, Claus Aalykke ¹⁵, Martin Rejler ¹⁶, Marte Lie Høivik ¹⁷, Loa Davidsdottir ¹⁸, Marie Carlson ¹⁹, Jonas Halfvarson ²⁰, Heidi Holt Zachariassen ²¹, Liv Baisner Petersen ²², Eva Sophia Myers ²²

Author information

¹Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Molecular Diagnostics and Clinical Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark. Electronic address: va@rsyd.dk.

²Molecular Diagnostics and Clinical Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark.

³Mage-tarmforbundet, Nes, Norway.

⁴The Danish Colitis Crohn Association, Odense, Denmark.

⁵Tarm-uro-och stomiförbundet ILCO, Stockholm, Sweden.

⁶The Swedish Stomach and Bowel Association, Stockholm, Sweden.

⁷Crohn's og Colitis Ulcerosa Samtökin, Reykjavik, Iceland.

⁸School of Medical Sciences, University of Örebro, Örebro, Sweden.

⁹Department of Medical Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark.

¹⁰Section for Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Research, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Research Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

¹¹Molecular Diagnostics and Clinical Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark; Section for Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Research, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

¹²Research Unit of Medical Gastroenterology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Medicine Svendborg, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Internal Medicine and Emergency, Section of Gastroenterology Svendborg, Odense University Hospital and Svendborg Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

¹³Research Unit of Medical Gastroenterology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

¹⁴Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Hospital of South West Jutland and University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark.

¹⁵Research Unit of Medicine Svendborg, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Internal Medicine and Emergency, Section of Gastroenterology Svendborg, Odense University Hospital and Svendborg Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

¹⁶Jönköping Academy for Improvement in Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden; Futurum Academy for Healthcare, Jönköping, Sweden.

¹⁷Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

¹⁸Department of Gastroenterology, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland.

¹⁹Department of Medical Sciences, Gastroenterology Research Group, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

²⁰Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.

²¹Committee for Gender Balance and Diversity in Research, Universitets og høgskolerådet, Oslo, Norway.

²²Gender Equality Team, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

Abstract

Extensive patient heterogeneity is a challenge in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Sex and gender, as well as the interaction of sex and gender with other social identities, referred to as intersectionality, contribute to this heterogeneity and might affect IBD outcomes. An interdisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, patients, and sex and gender experts reviewed current literature on the effect of sex and gender dimensions on IBD outcomes. The team also investigated the role that stakeholders have in advancing sex-based and gender-based IBD knowledge, as comprehensive studies are scarce. Acknowledging and integrating sex and gender into the organization and content of research (eg, study design, participant recruitment, data analysis, data interpretation, data dissemination, and impact evaluation) could enhance the validity, relevance, and applicability of research. Such gendered innovation has potential for advancing personalized medicine and improving the quality of life for people with IBD.