title: The male-female health-survival paradox and sex differences in cohort life expectancy in Utah, Denmark, and Sweden 1850-1910.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Utah, the prevalence of unhealthy male risk behaviors are lower than in most other male populations, whereas women experience higher mortality risk because of higher fertility rates. Therefore, we hypothesize that the Utah sex differential in mortality would be small and less than in Sweden and Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  Life tables from Utah, Denmark, and Sweden were used to calculate cohort life expectancies for men and women born in 1850-1910.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sex difference in cohort life expectancy was similar or larger in Utah when compared with Denmark and Sweden. The change over time in the sex differences in cohort life expectancy was approximately 2 years smaller for active Mormons in Utah than for other groups suggesting lifestyle as an important component for the overall change seen in cohort life expectancy. Sex differences in cohort life expectancy at the age of 50 years were similar for individuals actively affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for Denmark and Sweden.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hypothesis that a smaller sex difference in cohort life expectancies in Utah would be detected in relation to Denmark and Sweden was not supported. In Utah, the male-female differences in life expectancy remain substantial pointing toward biological mechanisms or other unmeasured risk factors.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark. rjacobsen@health.sdu.dk
authors: Rune
authors: R
authors: Lindahl-Jacobsen
authors: Heidi A
authors: HA
authors: Hanson
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Oksuzyan
authors: Geraldine P
authors: GP
authors: Mineau
authors: Kaare
authors: K
authors: Christensen
authors: Ken R
authors: KR
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012067:Religion; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology