Men's higher risk of death caused by socio-cultural factors

LEEDS, England, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- An analysis of the death and illness of men in Europe found high levels of premature death in men, but marked differences among countries, researchers say.

Alan White of the Centre for Men's Health at Leeds Metropolitan University in England; Bruno De Sousa of the Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical in Portugal; Richard De Visser of the University of Sussex and colleagues said in 2011 the European Commission began the report The State of Men's Health in Europe covering the health of 290 million men across 34 European countries.

This is the first official statement on the health of men in Europe, the researchers said. The work was carried out by a team from across Europe aided by a management advisory group, a reviewing group and a broader reference group.

Data from major international databases were used to compile a detailed analysis based on population data, lifestyle, preventable risk factors, use of health services and morbidity and mortality data, with the results focused on the "European shortlist" of 65 causes of death, White said.

The report concluded: "The very large variations seen in the health of men across Europe demonstrates that much of men's higher risk of premature death is caused by socio-cultural factors and therefore avoidable. No country should be complacent about the health of its male population."