A recent study published in JAMA reveals a worrying trend in the United States: the gap in life expectancy between men and women has widened, with men now dying nearly six years earlier than women.
This phenomenon marks a significant change, as women have consistently outlived men for over a century. However, since reaching its lowest point in 2010, the gap has steadily widened over the past decade.
Contributing factors and recent events
This growing gap in life expectancy aligns with an overall decline in the country’s life expectancy, which has fallen for two consecutive years. In 2021, it fell from 77 years to 76.1 years.
Notably, this disparity between men and women has not been this substantial since 1996, hovering one year above the 2010 low of 4.8 years.
Unraveling the causes
Researchers point to the COVID-19 pandemic as the main driver of this widening gap. Men experienced higher virus-related mortality rates, which may have been a result of social factors and health habits.
Additionally, a rise in unintentional injuries, such as car accidents and drug overdoses, claimed a record 106,000 lives in the United States in 2021.
Other factors contributing to men’s declining life expectancy include homicide, heart disease, and suicide.
Understanding the discrepancy
Scientists explore both biological and social factors to understand this trend. While differences in biological functions may play a role, environmental and social aspects significantly influence men’s exposure to health risks.
Men, who are more likely to be homeless and make up the majority of the prison population, face a higher likelihood of being victims of fatal violence or suicide.
Perspectives and calls to action
Brandon Yan, study co-author and resident physician at UC San Francisco, emphasizes the need for public health interventions to address this worrying decline in life expectancy. While rates of drug overdoses and homicides have increased for both sexes, men bear a disproportionate share of these deaths.
“We have provided information on a worrying trend,” Yan said. “Future research should help focus public health interventions on helping reverse this decline in life expectancy.”
unpack
Jump to
- Contributing factors and recent events
- Unraveling the causes
- Additionally, a rise in unintentional injuries, such as car accidents and drug overdoses, claimed a record 106,000 lives in the United States in 2021.
- Understanding the discrepancy
- Perspectives and calls to action
- A global perspective
A global perspective
This phenomenon is not unique to the United States, as women generally outlive men throughout the world, particularly in wealthy countries. The World Health Organization sees a less pronounced gap in low-income countries, primarily due to limited access to health care for both sexes.
Recent population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau project that women will continue to outlive men for the rest of the century.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn