While women are more likely to live longer than men, they experience and endure more non-fatal conditions than men during their life, according to new research.

The research, published in the Lancet Public Health Journal, examined the total number of life years lost to illness and premature death for the 20 leading causes of disease in men and women aged over 10 years old.

The study’s lead author, Dr Luisa Sorio Flor from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), said the release of the data is a call to action.

“Not only because of where the evidence is now, but because COVID-19 has starkly reminded us that sex differences can profoundly impact health outcomes,” Sorio Flor said.

“One key point the study highlights is how females and males differ in many biological and social factors that fluctuate and sometimes accumulate over time, resulting in them experiencing health and disease differently at each stage of life and across world regions.”

Many ailments and illnesses emerged between the ages of 10 and 19, and worsened as people aged.

Women experienced higher rates of lower back pain, depressive disorders, headache disorders, anxiety and dementia which affected their health and quality of life but were not fatal.

Women had higher rates of lower back pain. Photo: Getty

Gabriela Gil, co-author from IHME, said the main health problems for women, particularly musculoskeletal disorders and mental health conditions, have not received the attention that they deserve.

“It’s clear that women’s healthcare needs to extend well beyond areas that health systems and research funding have prioritised to date, such as sexual and reproductive concerns,” she said.

“Conditions that disproportionately impact females in all world regions, such as depressive disorders, are significantly underfunded compared with the massive burden they exert.”

She said governments that are planning their health systems must consider the higher level of disability women endure and the growing ratio of females to males in ageing populations.

Fatal diseases

The study found that 13 of the 20 top causes of disease burden, which includes COVID, road injuries and liver disease, killed more men than women in 2021.

Dr Vedavati Patwardhan, a co-lead author from the University of California, said the findings shine a light on the significant and unique health challenges that men face.

“Among these challenges are conditions that lead to premature deaths, notably in the form of road injuries, cancers, and heart disease,” he said.

“We need national health plans and strategies to address the health needs of men throughout their lives, including interventions targeting behavioural risks such as alcohol use and smoking that typically begin at a young age.”

Australia launched its 2020-2030 National Men’s Health Strategy under the Morrison government, joining the few countries to introduce a national-level policy to address men’s health like Ireland, Iran, Brazil, Malaysia, Mongolia and South Africa.

Patwardhan said that analysis also highlights the need for targeted policies and planning to address the health needs of diverse populations.

“Without granular insights on risk behaviours, social dynamics, economic conditions, and access to healthcare for all people in various parts of the world, the systemic barriers that sustain health inequities will remain.”