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Last Modified: June 7, 2007
Last Reviewed: June 7, 2007
Content Source:
Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities (OMHD)

Highlights in Minority Health
& Health Disparities
June, 2007

 

JUNE11-17, 2007 IS MEN'S HEALTH WEEK
Men made up 49.2% of the United States population in 2004 according to the National Center for Health Statistics.1  The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
Examples of Important Health Disparities Examples of Important Health Disparities by Race/Ethnicity For More Information Sources
Men have unique health challenges.  For example,
		Men tend to smoke and drink more than women and generally have less healthy lifestyles.
		Men do not seek medical help as often as women.
		Men tend to join in fearless, risky, dangerous behaviors more than women.
		Men are significantly less likely than women to recognize the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, such as their role in reducing the risk of many cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
The good news is that many of the major health risks that men face can be prevented and treated if they are diagnosed early.
Racial and ethnic minority men, especially African Americans, are even more at-risk for dying from certain causes, including injuries, chronic diseases, and infectious illnesses.
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EXAMPLES OF HEALTH DISPARITIES
In 2004,
		The life expectancy for males at birth was 5.2 years shorter than for females (male: 75.2; female: 80.4 years).2
		The all-causes death rate for males was 1.4 times higher for men than for women (men: 955.7 per 100,000; women: 679.2).3
		Men had a cardiovascular disease (CVD) death rate that was 1.5 times higher than women (men: 267.9 per 100,000; women: 177.3).3
		The HIV/AIDS death rate was 2.75 times higher for men than for women (men: 6.6 per 100,000; women: 2.4).3
		Men had a total cancer death rate that was 1.4 times higher than women (men: 227.7 per 100,000; women: 157.4).3
			Men had a lung cancer death rate that was 1.7 times higher than women (men: 70.1 per 100,000; women: 40.9).3
			Men had a colorectal cancer death rate that was 1.4 times higher than women (men: 21.5 per 100,000; women: 15.3).3
		Men were 4 times more likely to die from suicide as women (men: 18.0 per 100,000; women: 4.5).3
		Men were 2.1 times more likely to die from unintentional injuries than women (men: 52.1 per 100,000; women: 24.5).3
		Men were 2.3 times more likely to die from motor vehicle injuries than women (men: 21.4 per 100,000; women: 9.3).3
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EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT DISPARITIES BY RACE & ETHNICITY
		In 2003, African American men had the highest all-causes death rate of all races/ethnicities and both genders (1319.1 per 100,000).4
		In 2003, AI/AN men had the highest death rates for all races/ethnicities and both genders for unintentional injuries (AI/AN men: 75.0; all races/ethnicities men: 51.7; AI/AN women: 38.6), and motor vehicle injuries (AI/AN men: 35.1; all races/ethnicities men: 21.6; AI/AN women: 20.8).4
		In 2004, African American males had the shortest life expectancy at birth (69.5 years) compared to males of all races (75.2 years) and African American females (76.3 years).2
		In 2004, the age-adjusted HIV/AIDS death rate for Hispanic/Latino men was 8.2 per 100,000, 3.5 times higher than for Hispanic/Latino females (2.4) and 1.2 times higher than for males of all races/ethnicities (6.6).5  Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is the 7th leading cause of death among Hispanic/Latino males, but is not in the top 10 for males of all races or for Hispanic/Latino females.6
		Asian/Pacific Islander males experience high death rates for liver cancer (15.4 per 100,000 males), 2.5 times higher than white males (6.2)   (1998-2002).   Asian/Pacific Islander males also experience high death rates for stomach cancer (11.2 per 100,000), 2.0 times higher than white males (5.6).7
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
		Men's Health Topic Page
			Tips for a Healthy Life
		Men's Health Statistics, Health, United States, 2006
		Men's Health Fast Stats, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
	National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC)
		Men's Health
	Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
		Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age
	National Men’s Health Week
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SOURCES
1.	CDC, NCHS, Health, United States, 2006.  Table 1.
2.	CDC, NCHS, Health, United States, 2006.  Table 27.
3.	CDC, NCHS, Health, United States, 2006.  Table 29.
4.	CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC),  WISQARS Injury Mortality Reports, 2003.
5.	CDC, NCHS, Health, United States, 2006.  Table 42.
6.	CDC, NCHS, Health, United States, 2006.  Table 31.
7.	National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Health Disparities
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