Study Finds Age and Sex Shape Healthcare Preferences of Older Adults in England

A study of 6,098 English adults aged 50 and over, using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, was published in PLOS One on July 29, 2026. Researchers led by Nicholas Steel of the University of East Anglia identified systematic differences in general healthcare preferences across age and gender.

Women were more likely than men to avoid medical risks, prioritize quality of life over length of life, and reject experimental treatments, while being less inclined to leave treatment decisions to doctors. Men tended to defer more to physicians and placed less emphasis on quality of life. Participants aged 75 plus were also more risk‑averse, preferred bodily function over appearance, shunned experimental therapies, and were more likely to defer decisions to clinicians compared with those in their 50s‑60s.

The authors suggest that age, sex and education can provide useful cues for clinicians aiming to personalize care, but stress that individual patient preferences must still be obtained directly. The study’s limitations include reliance on hypothetical scenarios and focus on England, which may restrict broader generalisation.