[Differential mortality by sex in Catalonia]

The purpose of the study is to analyse the evolution of sex differentials in mortality rates in Catalonia (Spain), to assess which causes of death have the higher differentials and to compare the results with other countries. Standardized mortality rates (direct method), sex mortality ratios and differences were obtained. Mortality data refers to 1985 to allow for comparison. Men had higher mortality than women, for cancer, accidents and diseases of the digestive tract. Women had higher mortality rates for endocrine diseases, mental disorders, cardiovascular, skin and muscle-skeleton diseases and ill-defined causes. The evolution in recent years shows a relative stabilization after an increasing trend observed from 1960 to 1979. In general, men had a 60% higher than women age-adjusted mortality rates in the four countries to which Catalonia is compared. Suicide and accidents showed the highest sex mortality ratios. Diabetes showed a different ratio in Catalonia and Spain (higher female mortality rate) compared to other countries. The causes of death with higher male mortality were accidents, as well as causes associated with smoking (lung cancer and ischemic heart disease).