Health disparities between genders

Governments can better manage their population’s health needs by adopting a life-course approach in health planning and intervention

Governments must pivot their health systems to improve public health surveillance and incorporate a gender perspective.

Enhanced surveillance is crucial to detect health threats quickly, ensuring timely responses that prevent outbreaks. Rapid environmental changes and increased global mobility amplify this need, heightening the risk of disease spread.

A recent Lancet study delves into the pervasive health disparities between genders. Utilising data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, the researchers systematically quantified and compared the disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates for the top 20 causes of disease burden among individuals over the age of 10, on a global scale and across seven world regions, from 1990 to 2021. The study raises seven key issues.

First, among the 20 conditions analysed, females exhibit higher age-standardised DALY rates than males for seven conditions: Low back pain, depressive disorders, headache disorders, anxiety disorders, other musculoskeletal disorders, dementia, and HIV/AIDS.

Second, the study found that morbidity accounts for a larger proportion of the disease burden in females for their predominant conditions, whereas males experience a greater burden from premature mortality in their leading conditions.

Third, the conditions where females exceeded males in DALY rates are predominantly chronic and non-communicable diseases.

Fourth, the study also highlighted significant disparities in mental health disorders across regions, with the highest differences in DALY rates noted in high-income regions.

Fifth, pronounced regional variations are observed in DALY rates between genders. Mental health disorders also consistently show higher DALY rates for females across all regions.

Sixth, the analysis revealed widening health disparities between genders in conditions such as diabetes and mental health disorders.

Seventh, disparities were evident early in life and exacerbated over time. For instance, the DALY rates for musculoskeletal conditions and mental health issues in females not only started higher, but also increased with age.

To address these crucial challenges, governments must enhance public health surveillance systems and integrate gender-specific data analysis more deeply into health system planning. This approach should involve investing in systems that can accurately track and analyse the varying impacts of health conditions on different genders over time.

There is a pressing need for governments to commit to sustained funding and policy support for gender-specific health research.

By adopting a life-course approach in health planning and intervention, governments can better manage the health needs of their populations at all stages of life.