Differences between aspects of women and men health are pointed out and questions about biologic (sex) and behavioral (gender) factors are commented. The higher male mortality and their lower life expectancy, as well as the aging process of the population are discussed. The actual Brazilian male mortality pattern is similar to other countries. The male death rates are 50% higher than the female ones. Considering the age groups, the higher sex ratio occurred in the age group 20 to 39 years (3 male deaths : 1 female death). Observing the distributions of deaths according to the underlying causes, for both sexes, call the attention deaths by diseases of the circulatory system, in first place, and then, external causes (injury, poisoning and certain other consequences). Taking in account morbidity, measured by hospital discharges (excluding all related to childbirth/deliverance), there is an equilibrium between the numbers of male and female hospitalizations. There is similarity among the male and the female distributions of hospital discharges according to the reason of hospitalization, besides the case of external causes and mental and behavioral disorders, with sex ratio of 2.3 and 1.9 male hospital discharges to each female discharge. Aids and alcoholism are discussed as examples of important disorders in the male health status
Epidemiology; Male mortality; Male morbidity; Male health; Sex/Gender
