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Gender differentials in life expectancy in Italy
1Statistical Bureau, Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Istituto Superiore di Sanità-Rome, Italy. susanna@iss.it
European Journal of Epidemiology
|May 8, 2003
Summary
The gender gap in Italian life expectancy narrowed slightly since 1980, driven by older age groups and a shift in leading causes of death from cardiovascular disease to cancer. Changing lifestyle behaviors in men and women appear to be influencing this trend.
Area of Science:
- Demography
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Life expectancy gender differentials have historically favored women.
- Understanding the drivers of these differentials is crucial for public health interventions.
- Italian demographic trends provide a unique case study for analyzing changes over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the gender differential in life expectancy in Italy between 1970 and 1997.
- To identify specific age groups and causes of death contributing to the observed trends.
- To understand the factors influencing the narrowing of the gender gap in life expectancy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Pollard method for analyzing age-specific mortality contributions.
- Examined data from 1970 to 1997 to track changes in life expectancy differentials.
- Correlated causes of death with changes in the gender gap.
Main Results:
- A slight reduction in the gender differential of life expectancy was observed starting in 1980.
- Older and very old age groups became the primary contributors to the differential.
- Cardiovascular diseases were the leading causes of death until 1980, after which cancer became predominant.
Conclusions:
- The observed reduction in the gender differential since 1980 may be linked to lifestyle changes.
- Recent adoption of less healthy lifestyles by women and healthier behaviors by young men are hypothesized contributing factors.
- These behavioral shifts appear to be influencing the convergence of life expectancy between genders.