title: [Gender differences in the use of tumour markers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gender is one of the factors that can influence the use of health resources. The use of tumour markers is widespread, due to the importance of these in monitoring cancer development. The aim of this study is to analyse the influence of gender on the use of tumour markers, and to investigate whether there are differences in their use.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal, retrospective and descriptive study, with a 2-year follow-up, was conducted in the catchment area of the University Hospital of Padua. An analysis was performed on 23,059 analytical requests for tumour markers. A descriptive and frequency analysis was performed on all variables. The statistical analysis was performed using Chi squared, Student t and Mann-Whitney U to test for significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of requests for women (1.5) was lower than men (1.6). In patients with tumour pathology, the number of requests was higher than in patients without tumour disease. In the analysis by disease and gender, the difference remained significant. As regards the number of tumour markers per request, the difference between genders was also significant: 2.13 in males versus 2.85 in women. Similar results were obtained when requests for tumour markers linked to gender-related diseases were eliminated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are differences in the use of tumour markers by gender with the number of requests for male patients being higher than for females. However, the number of tumour markers per request is greater in women than in men.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Farmacia, Área de Gestión Sanitaria Serranía de Málaga, Málaga, España; Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, España. Electronic address: eeva.moreno.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Moreno-Campoy
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Clínico, Área de Gestión Sanitaria Serranía de Málaga, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Mérida-De la Torre
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martos-Crespo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Medicina, Hospital de Padua, Padua, Italia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Gender; Género; Marcador tumoral; Tumour markers; Use; Uso; Utilidad; Utility