A new global study has revealed that men are more likely than women to suffer and die from certain common diseases—but are also less likely to seek medical help.
The research, led by Angela Chang from the University of Southern Denmark and published in PLOS Medicine, looked at health data across many countries and highlighted clear differences between males and females in how diseases affect them and how they are treated.
The researchers focused on three major health conditions: high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. These illnesses affect millions of people worldwide and are leading causes of death and long-term disability.
The study gathered data from different countries and looked at how men and women are exposed to risks, how often they get diagnosed, how they are treated, and how many die from these conditions.
One of the key findings was that men generally had higher rates of these diseases and were more likely to die from them than women. Yet in many countries, men were also less likely to go to the doctor, get tested, or stick to treatment plans. This means that even though men are at higher risk, they often miss out on the care they need.
For example, in the case of high blood pressure, men received different levels of care than women in 200 countries. For diabetes, there were differences in 39 countries, and for HIV/AIDS, the gap showed up in 76 countries.
These differences suggest that men and women are not treated equally when it comes to health care, even though they may have different risks and needs.
The study also looked at common behaviors that affect health. It found that men are more likely to smoke, which raises the risk for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer. On the other hand, women were more likely to be obese and engage in unsafe sex, which can also lead to serious health problems.
One of the main concerns raised by the study is that most health systems don’t take these differences into account. Many health policies treat men and women the same, even though the evidence clearly shows that sex and gender make a big difference in health outcomes.
This one-size-fits-all approach may leave gaps in care and cause some people—especially men—to fall through the cracks.
The researchers stress the need for better data that shows how health outcomes differ by sex. This kind of data can help doctors and policymakers understand who is being left out and why. They also call for new strategies to encourage men to use health services, including preventive care, which can catch diseases early and improve chances of recovery.
Angela Chang, the study’s lead author, said that sex differences appear at nearly every step of the health journey—from risk to diagnosis and treatment. But because many countries don’t collect data separately for men and women, these gaps remain hidden.
Other experts, such as Professors Kent Buse and Sarah Hawkes of Global 50/50, agree. They point out that most of the differences are not just biological, but are also shaped by social and cultural factors—what society expects of men and women.
For example, some men may avoid seeing a doctor because they think it shows weakness, or they may not be aware of the risks they face.
These findings show that improving health care isn’t just about better medicine. It’s also about understanding the different needs of men and women and creating fair systems that work for everyone. By using gender-based analysis and collecting better data, health professionals can design policies and programs that close these gaps and improve health for all.
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The research findings can be found in PLOS Medicine.
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