OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of drug therapy initiation, and the time to treatment for men and women diagnosed with lipid disorders. METHODS: From an electronic medical records database extracted from primary care doctors' systems, patients newly diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia/hyperlipidemia from October 1, 1993 through September 30, 1996 were selected. Patients were followed through September 30, 1997 resulting in a follow-up time of one to four years. Patients must have blood cholesterol readings recorded prior to initial diagnosis. Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox regression were used for the analysis. Risl factors considered include age, estrogen replacement therapy, serum lipid levels, and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, CHD, obesity, and tobacco abuse disorder). RESULTS: A total of 2,692 patients was included in the analysis, with 1,223 male and 1,469 female. Among these patients, 33.4% of the males and 34.5% of the females (p = 0.58) were prescribed drug therapy within a year of diagnosis. Time to treatment between males and females was not significantly different (Log-rank test, p = 0.83). Gender was not a significant predictor when controlling for other risk factors (Cox regression, p = 0.91). For patients in the two highest risk groups according to National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines, 48.7% of the males and 52.0% of the females (p = 0.29) were prescribed drug therapy within a year of diagnosis. Median time to treatment was 436 (95% C.I. 289, 774) and 318 (95% C.I. 176, 518) days for men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of both rate of drug therapy initiation and time to treatment for lipid disorders, our study showed no statistically significant difference between men and women.