According to The Commonwealth Fund, an organization that focuses on public health issues, American men are more sick and die sooner than those living in developed countries.
The study compared men from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland to determine if there were any avoidable deaths, chronic conditions, or mental health issues.
According to the study, 29% of American men said they had multiple chronic diseases. Australian men were close behind at 25%. The lowest percentage of men living in France or Norway was 17%.
The study’s authors stated that men visit the doctor less often than women, regardless of stubbornness, aversion to being vulnerable or weak, or any other reason.
The report also shows that the U.S. men die from preventable deaths (deaths before 75 years) at a higher rate then the men of the other 10 countries.
Study results showed that income disparities can also impact one’s health. Low income men are more likely to smoke and drink, which can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
The study found that low-income earners are less likely to be able to afford proper care. They also tend to not visit the doctor as often, which can lead to more serious health problems. Low-income men were less likely than their counterparts to see a regular doctor.
Researchers noted that the U.S. is still an exception, being the only industrialized country without universal healthcare. This has resulted in men not getting the care they require because the costs are too high.
They wrote that roughly 16 million U.S. males are without insurance. “Affordability is the most common reason people cite to justify not enrolling in a health plan,”
American men don’t like the U.S. healthcare system. Only 37% give it a good rating. This is even worse for men with lower incomes, as only 32% approve of the healthcare system.
The U.S. had a silver lining for men. According to the study’s authors, they have the lowest incidence of prostate cancer-related death among all countries. This is largely due to the fact that the U.S. has advanced cancer treatment options and extensive cancer testing.
