[Sex differential in life expectancy at birth in Japan: (1) the sex differential in recent years].

Abstract

Reasons for the differences in life expectancy by sex observed in Japan in the period since 1990 are examined using data from official sources. The authors note that differences in mortality over age 50 account for around 70% of the sex differential in life expectancy at birth. They show that heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, pneumonia and bronchitis, suicide, accidents, and particularly malignant neoplasms are the main contributors to sex differences in mortality, and conclude that male life expectancy could be improved by changes in male lifestyles.