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Using national mortality data to study the changing sex differential in mortality
Sozial- Und Praventivmedizin
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Male overmortality varies significantly across developed nations, driven by accidents in youth and heart disease and lung cancer in later life. These trends reflect changing causes of death throughout the 20th century.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Demography
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sex differences in mortality show considerable international variation among developed countries.
- Male overmortality is pronounced in countries like Finland and the USSR, contrasting with lower differentials in Japan and Ireland.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the patterns and causes of sex differences in mortality across developed nations.
- To examine age-specific trends and historical changes in male excess mortality.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of mortality data across developed countries.
- Examination of age-specific mortality rates and leading causes of death for males and females.
Main Results:
- The sex mortality ratio peaks in young adulthood (ages 15-24) and around age 60.
- Motor vehicle accidents are a primary driver of male overmortality at younger ages.
- Heart disease and lung cancer contribute significantly to male excess mortality in later working life.
Conclusions:
- While infectious diseases and industrial accidents have decreased as causes of sex-differentiated mortality, rising rates of heart disease, lung cancer, and motor vehicle accidents sustain male overmortality.
- Understanding these trends is crucial for public health interventions targeting male longevity.