Men Suffer Higher Risk of Death from Some Common Diseases Compared to Women
A recent global study published in PLOS Medicine has revealed significant sex-based disparities in the prevalence, treatment, and outcomes of three common diseases: hypertension, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS, SciTech Daily reported. Led by Angela Chang from the University of Southern Denmark, the research analyzed worldwide data to uncover how men and women are differently affected by these conditions.
The study found that men experience higher rates of these diseases and related mortality compared to women. Additionally, men are less likely to seek medical care or adhere to treatment regimens, contributing to poorer health outcomes. The disparities were evident across multiple stages of the health pathway, including exposure to risk factors, disease development, diagnosis, treatment, and death. For example, men were more likely to smoke, a key risk factor, while women showed higher rates of obesity and unsafe sexual behaviors.
Researchers emphasize that many health policies currently treat men and women the same, despite clear differences in risks and outcomes. The findings highlight the need for sex-disaggregated health data to better identify gaps in care and develop targeted interventions. Experts also point out that social and gender-related factors, not just biological sex, contribute to these disparities, calling for a gender justice approach in health policy.
The study underscores the importance of encouraging men to engage more actively in preventive and healthcare services and advocates for more comprehensive data collection to promote equitable health outcomes worldwide.
