Are Men More Likely to Develop Physical Illness than Women?

A recent study suggests that men are more likely than women to develop a physical illness.

According a study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital that spanned over a 10-year-period, women showed a 14 percent reduced risk compared to men when it came to developing such health issues.

"The role of gender as a risk factor for illness is not always considered, but is an important element in medical research,"  Dr. Flora Matheson said via a press release. She is a scientist in hospital's Centre for Research on Inner City Health and the study's lead author. 

The study examined data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences where about 25 to 30 percent of the population carries a mental disorder in a given year. Background information from the study notes that this is a growing concern as previous findings suggest that serious mental illness shows higher rates of physical ailments including hypertension, cardiovascular issues, metabolic syndrome, respiratory diseases and viruses.

The study looked at information from the 2000-2001 Canadian Community Health Survey regarding subsequent medical records in order to help track the onset of four physical illnesses from 2001-01 to 2010-11.

"This study suggests the need for more research on the subject to fully understand connections between gender and complex health issues," said Dr. Matheson, via a the release.

"The research also indicates a need for policy change to be more sensitive to these complex-needs patients," she added. "Short assessments often restrict physicians from addressing all potential health problems, limiting preventative care. There's potential for reduced health system costs if we can better meet the needs of patients with complex health issues."

More information regarding the study can be found via the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.