Gender Gap In Life Expectancy Research Articles

Gender features of human capital development in the Republic of Kazakhstan

The basis of this study was the analysis of the human capital reproductive processes in the Republic of Kazakhstan, considering the gender component. The object was the human capital of Kazakhstan’s regions, and the subject was the gender aspect of human capital development. Mincer’s supplemented human capital assessment model was the primary model for calculating human capital. Factors influencing the effective use of human capital in the regions, considering the gender component, were identified, and their indices were calculated. The analysis showed a persistent gender gap in life expectancy, education level, income, and labour market. Based on the results, leader and outsider regions in terms of the accumulated human capital level were identified. The analysis indicates the responsible attitude of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan towards developing gender equality. Over the past ten years, Kazakhstan has advanced significantly in its efforts to empower women in the socio-political sphere. The Republic of Kazakhstan has assumed obligations under several international agreements, adopted many laws, and developed government measures critical for increasing women’s participation in government activities.

The contributions of avoidable causes of death to gender gap in life expectancy and life disparity in the US and Canada: 2001–2019

ObjectivesThis study measures public health policies' and healthcare system's influence, by assessing the contributions of avoidable deaths, on the gender gaps in life expectancy and disparity (GGLD and GGLD, respectively) in the United States (US) and Canada from 2001 to 2019. MethodsTo estimate the GGLE and GGLD, we retrieved age- and sex-specific causes of death from the World Health Organization's mortality database. By employing the continuous-change model, we decomposed the GGLE and GGLD by age and cause of death for each year and over time using females as the reference group. ResultsIn Canada and the US, the GGLE (GGLD) narrowed (increased) by 0.9 (0.2) and 0.2 (0.3) years, respectively. Largest contributor to the GGLE was non-avoidable deaths in Canada and preventable deaths in the US. Preventable deaths had the largest contributions to the GGLD in both countries. Ischemic heart disease contributed to the narrowing GGLE/GGLD in both countries. Conversely, treatable causes of death increased the GGLE/GGLD in both countries. In Canada, “treatable & preventable” as well as preventable causes of death narrowed the GGLE while opposite was seen in the US. While lung cancer contributed to the narrowing GGLE/GGLD, drug-related death contributed to the widening GGLE/GGLD in both countries. Injury-related deaths contributed to the narrowing GGLE/GGLD in Canada but not in the US. The contributions of avoidable causes of death to the GGLE declined in the age groups 55–74 in Canada and 70–74 in the US, whereas the GGLE widened for ages 25–34 in the US. ConclusionCanada experienced larger reduction in the GGLE compared to the US attributed mainly to preventable causes of death. To narrow the GGLE and GGLD, the US needs to address injury deaths. Urgent interventions are required for drug-related death in both countries, particularly among males aged 15–44 years.

Excess Mortality of Males Due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Poland.

At present, female life expectancy exceeds male life expectancy almost worldwide. However, numerous studies indicate that this disparity is gradually decreasing. In Poland, the gender gap in life expectancy peaked in 1991 when it amounted to 9.2 years. Since then, a narrowing of the gap has been observed, reaching 8 years in 2021. Decreasing differences in life expectancy between men and women in Poland were mainly the result of a reduction in mortality due to ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and a number of malignancies.Less attention has been paid to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) although it is the third leading cause of death worldwide. This paper includes an analysis of mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. The male excess mortality was calculated as the ratio of mortality rates in the male population scaled up to the corresponding rates in the female population using both crude and standardised detailed mortality rates. The Joinpoint model was used to determine time trends. It was shown that from 2008 to 2021, the excess mortality of men due to COPD in Poland decreased by 3.3% per year from 2.4 to 1.7 when using crude coefficients, while when standardised coefficients were applied, it decreased significantly by 3.9% per year from 3.8 to 2.4. The decrease in the excess mortality of men in Poland was due to a simultaneous decrease in mortality in the population in general; however, a greater decrease was observed in the male population. The mortality of men and women, and, at the same time, the excess mortality of men caused by COPD in Poland decreased faster in the period studied than in other European countries.

Widening Gender Gap in Life Expectancy in the US, 2010-2021

This cross-sectional study systematically examines the contributions of COVID-19 and other underlying causes of death to the widened gender life expectancy gap from 2010 to 2021.

Gender gap in life expectancy in Europe and the United Kingdom in 2019

Abstract Background Life expectancy (LE) is an important metric for overall population health and well-being. The gender gap in LE can be used as a population health metric to capture progress and monitor health inequality in a specific setting. Health inequality is an expression of universal health care coverage and unequal access to health care and the quality of health care - otherwise known as ‘amenable’ mortality. Methods The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study- a comprehensive global epidemiologic database has developed and validated two population health metrics across 200+ countries- the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Index (0-100) and the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index (0-100) to monitor progress in these two specific domains for each country. We set out to examine the association of gender gap in LE with UHC and HAQ indices across 27 EU countries and the UK combined for year 2019 employing correlation and linear regression analyses. Results Overall, LE ranged from 73.3 years in Bulgaria to 83.1 years in Italy; UHC index was worst in Bulgaria (62.6), while Luxembourg (91.5) was the best performing nation; HAQ index had the highest score in the Netherlands (91.1), while Bulgaria had the lowest score (64.9). Lithuania had the largest gender gap in LE (9.2 years; M:71.5; F: 80.7), while the Netherlands had the narrowest gender gap (3.4 years; M:80.0; F: 83.4). On multivariable linear regression, gender gaps in LE were significantly associated with both HAQ (beta: -0.17; R2=0.66), and UHC (beta: -0.14; R2=0.52) across 27 EU countries and the UK combined. Conclusions Gender gap in LE can be a proxy measure to monitor progress in health inequality in terms of universal health care coverage, as well as health care access and quality of health care for a specific population setting. The findings suggest that gender gap in LE can be significantly reduced through expansion of universal health care and improving both access and quality of health care in the EU. Key messages • Gender gap in life expectancy can be a good proxy to monitor progress in health inequality for EU countries and the UK combined, which has 5.5 years of gender gap in life expectancy on average in 2019. • A 10% increase in both universal health care coverage and health care access and quality, can reduce gender gap in life expectancy by 1.4 and 1.7 years, respectively, across EU and the UK combined.

The gender gap in life expectancy and lifespan disparity as social risk indicators for international countries: A fuzzy clustering approach

The careful monitoring of longevity risk has a pivotal role in many fields such as the economy, demography, and social sciences. Despite the life expectancy at birth has increased steadily over the last century, it conceals gender-specific differences worldwide. Indeed, longevity risk varies according to gender-specific risk, where, a single-risk-factor effect differs from different lifestyles. This can create problems for life insurers, pension plans and social security schemes that provide benefits linked to people’s illness, death or survival. This study considers gender differences in longevity heterogeneity in 32 international countries with the aim of identifying homogeneous groups of countries. To do this, we conduct a longitudinal analysis over the period 1990–2015 using the Dynamic Time Warping-based Fuzzy C-Medoids, and two cross-sectional analyses, one for the first year of the series (1990) and one for the last (2015), using the Fuzzy C-Medoids. We analyze longevity patterns with the double lens of lifespan disparity and life expectancy gender gap. The analyses allow us to highlight the characteristics of the countries considered and their trends according to their longevity dynamics, taking into account gender-related risk differences.

Functional data analysis approach in population studies: an application to the gender gap in life expectancy

AbstractThis work analyses the contribution of ages and causes of death to gender gap in life expectancy in 20 European and non-European countries between 1959 and 2015, using Functional Data Analysis. Data were retrieved from the WHO Mortality Database and from the Human Mortality Database. We propose a Functional Principal Component Analysis of the age profiles of cause-specific contributions, to identify the main components of the distribution of the age-specific contributions according to causes of death, and to summarize them with few components. Our findings show that the narrowing gender gap in life expectancy was mainly driven by decreasing differences in cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the study reveals that the age cause contributions act almost entirely on only two dimensions: level (extent of the cause-specific contribution to the overall mortality gender gap) and age pattern (location of the curves across ages). Notably, in the last period, it is not the "quantum" of the cause-specific contributions that matters, but the "timing", i.e. location across the age spectrum. Moreover, our results show that in the most recent period the gender gap in life expectancy is affected by composition of the causes of death more than it was in previous periods. We emphasise that Functional Data Analysis could prove useful to deepen our understanding of complex demographic phenomena.

Associations Between Gender Gaps in Life Expectancy, Air Pollution, and Urbanization: A Global Assessment With Bayesian Spatiotemporal Modeling.

Objectives: It's evident that women have a longer life expectancy than men. This study investigates the spatiotemporal trends of gender gaps in life expectancy (GGLE). It demonstrates the spatiotemporal difference of the influence factors of population-weighted air pollution (pwPM2.5) and urbanization on GGLE. Methods: Panel data on GGLE and influencing factors from 134 countries from 1960 to 2018 are collected. The Bayesian spatiotemporal model is performed. Results: The results show an obvious spatial heterogeneity worldwide with a continuously increasing trend of GGLE. Bayesian spatiotemporal regression reveals a significant positive relationship between pwPM2.5, urbanization, and GGLE with the spatial random effects. Further, the regression coefficients present obvious geographic disparities across space worldwide. Conclusion: In sum, social-economic development and air quality improvement should be considered comprehensively in global policy to make a fair chance for both genders to maximize their health gains.

Gender equality related to gender differences in life expectancy across the globe gender equality and life expectancy.

Life expectancy (LE) depends on the wider determinants of health, many of which have gendered effects worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether gender equality was associated with LE for women and men and the gender gap in LE across the globe. Gender equality in 156 countries was estimated using a modified global gender gap index (mGGGI), based on the index developed by the World Economic Forum between 2010 and 2021. Linear regression was used to investigate the association between the mGGGI and its economic, political, and education subindices and the gender gap in LE and women and men's LE. Overall, the mGGGI increased from 58% in 2010 to 62% in 2021. Globally, changes in the mGGGI and its economic and political subindexes were not associated with changes in the gender gap in LE or with LE for women and men between 2010 and 2020. Improvements in gender equality in education were associated with a longer LE for women and men and widening of the gender gap in LE. In 2021, each 10% increase in the mGGGI was associated with a 4.3-month increase in women's LE and a 3.5-month increase in men's LE, and thus with an 8-month wider gender gap. However, the direction and magnitude of these associations varied between regions. Each 10% increase in the mGGGI was associated with a 6-month narrower gender gap in high-income countries, and a 13- and 16-month wider gender gap in South and Southeast Asia and Oceania, and in Sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. Globally, greater gender equality is associated with longer LE for both women and men and a widening of the gender gap in LE. The variation in this association across world regions suggests that gender equality may change as countries progress towards socioeconomic development and gender equality.

Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy of patients with advanced schistosomiasis in Hunan Province, China

BackgroundFew studies have investigated the change in life expectancy (LE) and the healthy lifespan among patients with advanced schistosomiasis. This study was to evaluate the LE and healthy life expectancy (HLE) for patients and assess the mechanism responsible for the LE inequality.MethodsWe utilized data from a dynamic advanced schistosomiasis cohort (10,362 patients) for the period from January 2008 to December 2019 in Hunan Province, China, to calculate the LEs of patients, and made a comparison with that of general population (19,642 schistosomiasis-free individuals) in the schistosomiasis endemic areas. LEs were estimated from 15 years of age by constructing period life tables. Arriaga’s decomposition method was applied to quantify the influence of the age structure on the difference in LE. HLE for advanced schistosomiasis patients was calculated by using Sullivan method with age-specific disability weight. The LE and HLE were calculated for both males and females to perform further analyses on gender gap.ResultsThe estimated LE for advanced schistosomiasis patients aged 15–19 was 49.51 years (48.86 years for males and 51.07 years for females), which was 20.14 years lower compared with general population (69.65 years), and the LE gap between patients and general population decreased with age. The largest age-specific mortality contribution to the gap (32.06%) occurred at age 80–84 years. Women had a lower LE and HLE than men at age ≥ 60 years (both gender gaps in LE and HLE < 0). For advanced schistosomiasis patients, the gender gap in LE was largely attributed to the difference in mortality among those under the age of 55; the age-specific mortality in women exerted positive influence on the gap at age 25–64 and 75–79 years, with the contribution rate ranging from 0.59% to 57.02%, and made the negative contribution at other age groups.ConclusionsThe LE of advanced schistosomiasis patients was still much lower compared with general population. Strengthened prevention strategies and targeted treatments are needed to reduce morbidity and mortality due to advanced schistosomiasis, especially for younger population and elderly female patients.

The contributions of injury deaths to the gender gap in life expectancy and life disparity in Eastern Mediterranean Region

BackgroundInjury deaths constitute a major avoidable cause of death affecting life expectancy to a different degree in men and women. This study quantified the contributions of injury deaths to the gender gap in life expectancy (GGLE) and life disparity (GGLD) in nine Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries.MethodsWe retrieved annual data on age-sex specific causes of death from the World Health Organization mortality database for EMR countries with at least 2-year consecutive data during 2010–2019. The injury-related deaths were categorized into five groups: transport accidents, other accidental injuries, intentional self-harm, assault and events of undetermined intent. Considering women as the reference, the GGLE and GGLD were decomposed by age and causes of death, using a continuous-change model.ResultsThe largest and smallest GGLE were observed in Kuwait (5.2 years) and Qatar (− 1.2 years), respectively. Qatar (− 2.2 years) and Oman (0.2 years) had the highest and lowest GGLD. The highest contributions of injury deaths to the GGLE/GGLD were seen in Libya (1.8/− 1.2 years), followed by Iran (1.2/− 0.8 years). Among injury causes, transport accidents were the leading cause of GGLE in all countries but Libya and Morocco, with Iran having the greatest contributions (0.6 years). Injury deaths in men aged 15–29 years accounted for 33% [41%] (Kuwait) to 55% [65%] (Oman) of total GGLE [GGLD] attributable to injury deaths.ConclusionsHigh injury deaths, particularly transport accidents, among young men contributed substantially to the GGLE and GGLD across nine EMR countries in this study. This highlights the need for implementing preventing policies to reduce the burden of injury deaths specifically in young men.

Gender gap in life expectancy at birth and the role of socioeconomic indicators in South and East Europe, 1991 – 2020: Evidence from a dynamic panel model

The purpose of this paper is to explain the role of socioeconomic development, economic, employment, and demographic factors on gender gap in life expectancy at birth (LEAB) in 24 South and East European countries. Aggregated yearly time series mainly from the UN and World Bank database for the period 1991 – 2020 were used. The generalized method of moments/dynamic panel data (GMM/DPD) model, a dynamic panel model, was used to explore the role of socioeconomic development, economic, employment, and demographic factors on sex differences in LEAB. The study shows that in these countries, a narrowed gender gap in LEAB is associated with a higher percentage of urban population in total population. There was found a significant impact of GDP per capita with a 2-year lag and Gini index with a 2-year lag as well as to LEAB on the gender gap in LEAB. There was not found a significant relationship between employment and education variables on gender gap in LEAB. However, the findings are important for policy discussions in terms of population health, labor policy, etc. The results are supported by the number of studies which show the relationship between socioeconomic development, economic, and demographic indicators and employment issues with gender gap in LEAB.

On the evolution of the gender gap in life expectancy at normal retirement age for OECD countries

Population aging is evolving at different rates across countries and over time, and it represents a long-term challenge for both the sustainability of pension schemes and for the realization of public intergenerational transfers. In this context, this work focuses on gender differences in survival at older ages. Specifically, we implement a comparative analysis of OECD countries to assess the adequacy of the corresponding gender-specific normal retirement age when faced with growing life expectancy. The analysis hinges on several graphical representations and is motivated by recent findings on Italian longevity to determine optimal retirement age shifts necessary to match growing life expectancy at older ages while accounting for model risk for mortality projections. Our analysis determines—at the country level—the extent to which adjustments to the normal retirement age are advisable for the sustainability of the intergenerational paradigm for pensions. The study considers males and females separately because most of these countries are characterized by aging societies where men and women have different crucial characteristics, including life expectancy. It is therefore important that policymakers have information on the future evolution of the longevity gender gap so they will be able to apply policies that preserve the principles of equality and solidarity and reduce the pension gender gap. We find groups of countries where gender gap in life expectancy follows the same dynamics.

The impact of values of men and women on their life expectancy

The female advantage in life expectancy (LE) is found throughout the world, despite differences in living conditions. However, this advantage has diminished in recent years in countries with low mortality rates. In Russia, according to data for 2020, the difference in life expectancy at birth between women and men is 10 years (according to Rosstat) and is one of the highest in the world. The aim of our study is to find out what contribution to the gender gap in life expectancy can be made by the difference between men and women in terms of the value of health and the practice of self-caring behavior. To do this, we used data from the Sample Survey of Behavioral Factors Affecting the Health of the Population conducted by Rosstat in 2013, namely, the respondents' answers to a number of questions related to self-caring and health-preserving behavior. Using these questions, the level of the gap in the value of their own health and health-preserving behavior between Russian men and women is quantified according to the microdata of the survey using OLS regression and ordinal logit regression, where the respondent's answer to the question is used as a dependent variable, and the main independent variable is the gender of the respondent. The results showed that value attitudes to healthy lifestyle significantly affect health-preserving behavior. Correlations between the value of health and various aspects of health-preserving behavior turned out to be in the predicted direction. At the same time, at the level of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the analysis showed a high statistical significance of the following predictors of the gender gap in life expectancy: high levels of consumption of strong alcoholic beverages and tobacco smoking. The increase in the value of health among Russian men is here only of very limited importance for reducing the gender gap in life expectancy.

The Gender Gap in Life Expectancy in Urban and Rural China, 2013–2018

BackgroundGender differences in mortality are embedded within mortality transitions. Rural residents generally lag behind their urban counterparts in the transitions. The study objective is to identify major causes of death that drive gender differences in mortality in urban and rural China.MethodsWe use age-, gender-, urban-rural- and cause-specific mortality data (2013–2018) derived from the national mortality surveillance system that covered about 24% of the Chinese population. We apply Arriaga's method to decompose age- and cause-specific contributions to the gender gap in life expectancy at birth. Analyses are stratified by urban-rural residence.ResultsWomen had a higher life expectancy at birth than men in both urban and rural areas. Cancers, cardiovascular disease, external causes, and respiratory disease accounted for more than 90% of the gender gap in both areas during 2013–2018. In urban areas, the gender gap decreased from 5.17 years in 2013–2015 to 4.98 years in 2016–2018. In rural areas, the gender gap stayed rather constant (2013–2015: 5.68 years; 2016–2018: 5.65 years). Traffic accidents, among external causes, contributed the most to decreasing the gender gap (urban: −0.07 years; rural: −0.10 years), especially in the 0–44 age group. However, the decrease in the gender gap was counteracted by an increase in the gender gap attributable to ischemic heart disease (urban: +0.05 years; rural: +0.08 years) and lung cancer (urban: +0.02 years; rural: +0.05 years) in older age groups. The gender gap attributable either to cerebrovascular disease or to chronic lower respiratory disease decreased in urban areas but increased in rural areas.ConclusionsThe urban-rural variations in the cause-specific contributions to the gender gap in China suggest the necessity of implementing urban-rural-specific interventions to improve population health and health equity.

Gender equality and the gender gap in life expectancy in the European Union

IntroductionLife expectancy (LE) depends on the wider determinants of health, which have different impact in women and men. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether gender equality was correlated with...

Desafíos actuales: la feminización del cuidado de los vínculos intergeneracionales

&nbsp;Since the last century, a number of unprecedented demographic changes in human history have become evident. Likewise, the increase in life expectancy at birth along with extended active working life, a higher proportion of women in this age group, and a decrease in the number of children as evidenced in the low total fertility rate translate into changes that will inevitably bring about consequences to both humans and social structures. &nbsp;On the basis of a broad scientific analysis, it could be said that extended, multi-generational families are still a source of solidarity. Indeed, the presence of grandparents provides certain stability as they contribute to family cohesion through their different and relevant contributions, support and care. Also, due to the gender gap in life expectancy , they will be even more challenging spaces for women.

How to Study Life Expectancy at Birth (e0) Differences between The Two Genders: A Methodological Proposition

This methodological paper proposes a combination of methods for evaluating the gender gap in life expectancy at birth between different populations. This approach consists of three steps. First, the abridged life tables per gender are calculated. Second, the gender differences in life expectancy at birth are decomposed by age by applying a relevant procedure. In the final step, an agglomerative cluster analysis method is applied. Several problems of this method are discussed and ways to overcome them are proposed. Results indicate the method's validity and sensitivity in portraying the segmentation or differences between countries in a cross-sectional study.

Gender gap in life expectancy in India and role of age groups: A comparison between before and after male - female life expectancy at birth crossover.

To assess the gender gap in life expectancy at birth in India and its major states as well as the timing of male-female life expectancy at birth crossover. To analyze the age-specific contributions to the changing gender differences before and after the crossover at the national and sub-national levels. We have used sample-survey-based age-specific mortality data available for the periods 1970–2018 to construct abridged life tables. The contribution of different age groups to the gender gap is estimated by using Arriaga’s method of decomposition. During 1981–85 female life expectancy at birth caught up with male life expectancy at birth for India and by 2005 all major states completed the crossover. The male-female crossover in life expectancy at the national level in the early 80s is remarkable in the face of continued female disadvantage from birth till adolescence, even for some richer states. We provide evidence that gender difference in longevity in favour of females is largely a function of adult age groups and younger age groups contribute negatively to the gender gap in life expectancy at birth in most states. Juxtaposing the results from contribution in an absolute number of years and their relative contribution change before and after the crossover, it is established that although the adult and old age groups contribute the highest in the absolute number of years before and after the crossover, the contribution of the reproductive age groups and childhood years in the recent time is most relevant in relative terms.

Life Expectancy and Healthy Life Expectancy of Adults in Oman: Does Women’s Longer Life Expectancy than Men Mean Success or Burden for Women?

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the life expectancy (LE) and healthy life expectancy (HLE) of Omani adults with age and gender differentials, focusing on whether the higher LE of women than men is a gain or burden for women. Method: Data for the study come from multiple sources such as the 2010 population census, the 2008 World Health Survey in Oman, and secondary data published in the Statistical Yearbook of Oman. The life table and the modified life table proposed by Sullivan were used for estimating the LE and HLE of adult people of age 20 and above, respectively. Results: LE in Oman reached 76 years for both sexes in recent times. However, since 2010 LE has been stalled in the vicinity of 76 years in Oman. Women had higher LE than men (79 years versus 74 years). In terms of HLE, men outweighed women in Oman. At the age of 20, the gap between male-female LE was found to be 4.7 years in favor of females, whereas the gap between male-female HLE was found to be 5.8 years in favor of males. Females spent a relatively long time in poor health status than males (20.8 years versus 10.8 years) and the proportion of life spent in poor health was greater for females than males (35.0% vs. 19.3%). This revealed the paradox of less mortality but higher morbidity among women, supporting the “Failure of Success” hypothesis. Conclusion: Appropriate health policy and strategy need to be taken to reduce the gender gap in LE and HLE in Oman.