Differences in morbidity rates between men and women

Abstract

Until the end of the 20th century, medical science did not take into consideration the existence of gender differences in the ways in which people fall ill, and in the types of the most frequent diseases. A significant gender bias underlies the relative neglect of these biological, psychological and social differences. Our group has defined the expression “differential female morbidity” to describe and draw attention to these differences. The predominant differential risk factors for premature mortality are cardiovascular problems, breast cancer and colon cancer. As regards morbidity, menstruation and related disorders represent the main differential factor according to age, and endocrine diseases and muscular-skeletal pain are the ones that cause the most prevalent problems. Iron deficiency and low vitamin D levels are also important factors.