Gender Disparities in Industry Payments to Urologists

Abstract

Objective: To analyze and compare industry payments to urologists in the Open Payments Database by gender. We hypothesized that industry payments might be greater to male vs women urologists.

Methods: The Open Payments Database was analyzed from 2013-2017 and gender determined for all urologists receiving payments in the following categories: (1) research (made in connection to a research program or protocol), (2) ownership (ownership or investment interests held by the physician or immediate family member), and (3) general. Payment form and amount was collected and average payment per category, by gender, was calculated.

Results: A total of 12,161 urologists received industry payments from 2013-2017, of which 90% were male. Over the study period, there was a greater proportional increase in female urologists participating in industry payments: 46.8% for female urologists, vs 12.3% for male urologists (P <.01). Male urologists earned twice as much as women in all categories except for Ownership. Average payment (USD) per urologist was $3,106 vs $1338, $34, 494 vs $16,020, and $39,062 vs $252,710 for General, Research, and Ownership, respectively. Although the number of female urologists receiving industry payment increased during the study period, the average payment amount increased by 14.6% for women, compared to 107.8% for men (P <.01).

Conclusion: Analysis of the Open Payments Database shows that on average women urologists earned half as much as men in their industry reported payments.