Global study finds men have shorter lifespans while women are more prone to chronic illness
The findings of a large-scale study examining disease incidence among men and women have been released. The results are unsurprising.
A group of researchers from prominent US universities examined information on the 20 most widespread global health issues over a 30-year period to identify gender-based differences. The study found significant differences between men and women in terms of life expectancy and the duration of illness.
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Men live shorter; women get sick for longer
An article entitled: "Differences across the lifespan between females and males in the top 20 causes of disease burden globally: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021" appeared in the scientific journal Lancet. The analysis reveals that men are more likely to die early while women spend more time in poor health.
According to the researchers, women are more prone to non-fatal conditions, including musculoskeletal problems, mental health problems and headache disorders. On the other hand, men are more likely to suffer from diseases that can cause premature death, such as cardiovascular, respiratory and liver diseases, Covid-19 and road traffic injuries.
The study’s senior author, Dr Luisa Sorio Flor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, said: "This report clearly shows that over the past 30 years, global progress on health has been uneven. The researchers emphasised the importance of tailoring health promotion efforts to the specific needs of men and women.
Women more likely to suffer from non-fatal conditions
"Females have longer lives but live more years in poor health, with limited progress made in reducing the burden of conditions leading to illness and disability, underscoring the urgent need for greater attention to non-fatal consequences that limit women’s physical and mental function, especially at older ages. Similarly, males are experiencing a much higher and growing burden of disease with fatal consequences," Flor added.
The analysis found that for 13 out of the top 20 causes of illness and death, including COVID-19, road injuries, and a range of heart, respiratory and liver diseases, the rate was higher in men than women in 2021. According to the Guardian, the results of the study also suggest that conditions that affect women more often are low back pain, depressive disorders, headaches, anxiety disorders, bone and muscle disorders, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and HIV and AIDS.
Source: theguardian.com, thelancet.com
