About The Study: This analysis finds that COVID-19 and the drug overdose epidemic were major contributors to the widening gender gap in life expectancy (nearly six years) between women and men in recent years. Men experienced higher COVID-19 death rates for likely multifactorial reasons, including higher burden of comorbidities and differences in health behaviors and socioeconomic factors, such as labor force participation, incarceration, and homelessness. Differentially worsening mortality from diabetes, heart disease, homicide, and suicide suggest that chronic metabolic disease and mental illness may also contribute.
Authors: Brandon W. Yan, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, is the corresponding author.
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(doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.6041)
