Contributions of age groups and causes of death to the sex gap in lifespan variation in Europe

Abstract

Much less is known about the sex gap in lifespan variation, which reflects inequalities in the length of life, than about the sex gap in life expectancy (average length of life). We examined the contributions of age groups and causes of death to the sex gap in lifespan variation for 28 European countries, grouped into five European regions. In 2010-15, males in Europe displayed a 6.8-year-lower life expectancy and a 2.3-year-higher standard deviation in lifespan than females, with clear regional differences. Sex differences in lifespan variation are attributable largely to higher external mortality among males aged 30-39, whereas sex differences in life expectancy are due predominantly to higher smoking-related and cardiovascular disease mortality among males aged 60-69. The distinct findings for the sex gap in lifespan variation and the sex gap in life expectancy provide additional insights into the survival differences between the sexes.

Gender differences in survival across the ages of life: an introduction

“…These health differences are also reflected in different epidemiological profiles, as we observe variations in the prevalence, outcomes of diseases and how diseases influence lifespan between the two sexes (Janssen, 2020;Westergaard et al, 2019;Zazueta-Borboa et al, 2023) and, even when men and women experience the same disease, differences in disease manifestations, progression, and outcomes are often observed. For example, heart disease may present differently in women than in men, leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment in women (Bots et al, 2017;Regitz-Zagrosek & Gebhard, 2023;Vogel et al, 2021).…”