Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 1: Women may be living longer than men, but they also spend significantly more years coping with chronic pain, mental health disorders and other disabling health conditions, according to a major global study published in the medical journal The Lancet Public Health.

The study, which analysed health data from 204 countries and territories, found that women carry a disproportionately higher burden of several chronic and non-fatal conditions that affect quality of life, while men are more likely to die prematurely from fatal diseases and injuries.

Researchers identified lower back pain as the leading condition disproportionately affecting women worldwide. Women were also found to experience higher rates of depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, headache disorders, musculoskeletal conditions and dementia.

The findings challenge the common belief that a longer life necessarily translates into better health.

Dr. Rommel Tickoo, Director of Internal Medicine at Max Healthcare, said longevity alone should not be considered a measure of good health.

“Women are living longer, but many spend a greater proportion of their lives dealing with chronic pain, mental health disorders and disabling non-fatal illnesses,” he said.

According to the study, the health gap between women and men begins early in life and widens with age. Mental health disorders and musculoskeletal conditions emerge as major contributors to ill health among girls and women during adolescence and continue throughout adulthood.

Tickoo said the reasons behind the disparity are likely to be multifactorial, including biological and hormonal influences, greater susceptibility to autoimmune and musculoskeletal disorders, and the impact of social and caregiving responsibilities on physical and mental well-being.

Researchers noted that the findings expose a significant gap in healthcare systems, which often focus primarily on reproductive and maternal health while overlooking chronic conditions that account for a substantial share of women's overall disease burden.

In contrast, men were found to face a higher burden from conditions such as COVID-19, Ischaemic Heart Disease, road injuries and chronic respiratory diseases, highlighting their greater risk of premature mortality.

The study underscores the need for healthcare policies and systems to address the broader spectrum of health challenges faced by women, particularly chronic and disabling conditions that affect quality of life over the long term.