Men are more likely to get sick — and less willing to seek help.

Men get sick more often and live shorter lives than women in almost every country, according to a global review by the University of Southern Denmark, published in May in the scientific journal PLOS Medicine . The research analyzed gender markers of health in more than 200 countries, focusing on hypertension, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. The results show that men have higher rates of these diseases, die earlier from them, and seek healthcare services less frequently—both for diagnosis and treatment.

The study points to social and cultural factors as the main explanations for this pattern. Gender norms, risk behaviors, and the association between disease and frailty contribute to men's lack of healthcare. They tend to smoke more, neglect prevention, and downplay symptoms.

"Historically, the stereotype of 'being a man,' coupled with social, cultural, political, and economic factors, has had a negative impact on men's health," says family and community physician Wilands Patrício Procópio Gomes of Einstein Hospital Israelita. Among the examples highlighted by Gomes are the idea that being sick is synonymous with fragility, a lack of knowledge about one's own body and potential symptoms, and a fear of diagnosis.

In Brazil, data from the IBGE ( Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) reflects this scenario. In 2023, male life expectancy was 73.1 years, compared to 79.7 years for women, a difference of almost seven years. Men also have fewer routine checkups and are more resistant to preventive exams and ongoing treatments. According to the 2019 National Health Survey , 82.3% of women had seen a doctor in the previous year, compared to 69.4% of men.

Lack of reception and strategy

For Gomes, change begins in primary care, with specific actions to attract and welcome men. "Primary care, as the gateway to healthcare services, needs to understand its population well and develop strategies to expand access and support for this group, offering health education and appropriate screening tests to reduce the impact that cultural and social factors can have on the health process and clinical, mental, and psychological illness," emphasizes the family and community physician.

The consequences of this reluctance to access the healthcare system are reflected in the disease prevalence statistics observed in the study. Regarding HIV and AIDS, between 2007 and July 2024, 70.7% of cases in Brazil occurred in men, according to the Ministry of Health's Epidemiological Bulletin of December 2024. Chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, while common to both sexes, led more men to fatal complications, such as heart attacks and strokes.

In clinical practice, Gomes observes that many men still view the healthcare system as an emergency resource, activated only in acute situations, such as pain or injury. "We must also consider the stigma of prostate cancer screening tests, such as the digital rectal exam," he notes. Without an adapted approach, the doctor states, these individuals tend to remain isolated from care—and more exposed to preventable deaths.

Public policy is part of the answer

Resistance is most pronounced among men aged 20 to 59—precisely the focus of the National Policy for Comprehensive Men's Health Care (PNAISH) , created in 2008 to address the cultural and social factors that affect men's health. The initiative recognizes the importance of adapting the Unified Health System (SUS) to the specific needs of men, focusing on welcoming services, extended hours at primary care units, and other initiatives.

"Some actions have a significant impact on the uptake and access to men's health, such as extending the opening hours of basic health units; off-site activities, such as health groups held in the community, in bars and squares providing health information; and collective care for citizens who sometimes do not access health services," lists Wilands Gomes.

Another example of an initiative is Blue November, created in 2011 by the Instituto Lado a Lado pela Vida. The campaign aims to raise awareness among men about prostate cancer screenings and expand discussions on male self-care, addressing smoking, mental health, and cardiovascular disease prevention.

For the Einstein physician, however, transformation will only occur if the healthcare system recognizes and directly addresses the social and cultural determinants of male resistance, not only through public policies but also in the doctor-patient relationship. "I believe it's essential for all primary care professionals to be familiar with the protocols for screening, treatment, classification, and rehabilitation of men and their conditions, enabling them to optimize consultations, create bonds, and enhance and improve men's healthcare," he states. These strategies have proven effective—the only thing left to do is make them more widespread and consistent.

Source: Einstein Agency

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