THE SEX-RATIO OF MORTALITY AND ITS SECULAR TRENDS

Background. The mortality level from all causes is different between p opulations and it has decreased for both men and women in most countri es in the last decades. However, there is a difference in the male/fem ale sex ratio of mortality between populations and its time trends and the reasons for these differences remain unclear. Methods. The sex ra tio of all-cause mortality and the main causes of death, i.e. total ca rdiovascular disease and cancer, for 30 populations in 1988 (mean of 1 987-1989), and the time trends of the sex ratio for 27 populations are analysed. Results. Large differences in the sex ratio of mortality ex ist among the studied populations, The sex ratio of all-cause, total c ardiovascular and cancer mortality markedly increased in most countrie s during recent decades. Conclusions. The sex ratio of all-cause morta lity and its time trends correlated significantly and positively with the sex ratio of mortality and its time trends from total cardiovascul ar disease and cancer. The differences of the sex ratio of mortality a nd their time trends between populations cannot be explained by geneti c factors. They could be attributed to differences in life style. A di fferent exposure and different reaction to the risk factors of cardiov ascular diseases and cancer, e.g. saturated fat intake, alcohol intake and smoking habits, between men and women are considered to be the ma in causes for these differences in the sex ratio of mortality.