Women in the US are now living an average of 5.8 years longer than men, marking the largest gender gap in life expectancy since 1996, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of California found that the Covid-19 pandemic was largely responsible for the growing disparity, as it disproportionately took the lives of men. Unintentional injuries and drug overdoses, accidents, and suicide were also significant contributors to the widening life expectancy gap, with the study referring to these as ‘deaths of despair’ due to their association with economic hardships, depression, and stress.
The analysis, which was conducted using mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics, revealed that improved medical care for women, such as reductions in cancer and perinatal conditions, has also played a role in the widening gap. Additionally, divergently worsening mortality from diabetes, heart disease, homicide, and suicide suggest that chronic metabolic disease and mental illness may be contributing factors.
The gap has significantly increased since 2010 when it was just 4.8 years, pointing to a troubling trend. Data from the US Census Bureau revealed that male deaths increased more than female deaths between 2019 and 2021, further emphasizing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on male mortality.
First author of the study, Brandon Yan, noted that there has been a considerable amount of research into the decline in life expectancy in recent years, but no one has systematically analyzed why the gap between men and women has been widening since 2010. The findings call for further investigation and interventions to address the root causes of this concerning trend.