A comprehensive global study published in The Lancet Public Health journal has revealed significant health disparities between men and women. Men are disproportionately affected by early death-causing conditions such as COVID-19, heart disease, and road injuries. On the other hand, women experience higher levels of non-fatal illnesses, including mental health conditions, headaches, and lower back pain. The findings underscore the diverse health needs of men and women throughout their lives, highlighting the importance of tailored healthcare approaches.
Researchers analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, comparing the number of life years lost to illness and premature death over the past 30 years. They found that COVID-19 has starkly exposed the impact of sex differences on health outcomes, with men experiencing 45% more health loss due to the virus than women.
The study also revealed that the greatest sex-based gap in health loss that disadvantaged women was for low back pain, with the gap being the most pronounced in South Asia, followed by Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. The health differences appear in teenage and continue to grow with age, with women enduring higher levels of illness and disability their entire lives, as they tend to live longer than men.
The authors of the study emphasize the need for “concerted, sex- and gender-informed strategies” to address the unique health challenges faced by men and women. They call for countries to strengthen their reporting of sex and gender data, and use them to overhaul their approach to health.
While COVID-19 disproportionately affected men across all regions, the widest sex-based difference was observed in the sub-Saharan Africa, and the Latin America and the Caribbean regions. Cardiovascular disease and road injuries were found to be other important conditions resulting in premature deaths.
Women around the world were also found to be disproportionately impacted by mental health conditions. Life years lost to depressive disorders were found to be over a third higher among women than men. The widest sex-based gaps affecting women were observed in high-income countries, and those in Latin America and the Caribbean countries.