Report on the First World Congress on Men's Health

The "First World Congress on Men's Health" was held in Vienna from 2nd to 4th November, 2001. 400 Scientists and health experts from 17 countries all over the world participated in this event.

Within the framework of the 1st World Congress on Men's Health, a series of reports on the state of men's health in different parts of the world were presented.

A. Kalache, a representative of the World Health Organization, particularly emphasized in his contribution to the proceedings the fact, that the percentage of elderly men is growing in practically all countries around the world. It is, therefore, extremely important to carry out effective prevention programs, so that healthy ageing will also be possible for the male population.

As far as the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are concerned, an especially bleak picture of the state of men's health in this part of the world was presented. V. Sholknikov reported, for instance, that in these countries life expectancy is generally only 68 years and that in Russia it falls to a tragically low value of only 62 years. Compared to the life expectancy of men (at birth) within the EU, which is 75 years, this represents a loss of seven years of life (and in Russia as much as 13 years)!

On average, a male Russian can expect to live only 56 years in a reasonably good state of health! According to the scientists, these enormous gaps in life and health expectancy are primarily caused by the high incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, violent deaths and accidents, as well as, by alcohol related deaths.

G. Ogah, a health expert from Nigeria, reported, that for African men the probability of dying between the ages of 15 and 59 amounts to an incredible 48%, compared with 22%, which represents the world average, and life expectancy there is only 49 years!

So what kind of illnesses are those that kill so many people in Africa and shorten the life span so dreadfully?

Two thirds of all deaths are caused by tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria. It is safe to assume, that diseases like hypertension, prostatic illnesses, liver cancer, diabetes, etc. also have a high prevalence, but the actual number of cases is unknown, since medical help is not always sought. Furthermore, many people in Africa perish in accidents and in wars (600,000 a year). Lack of water, insufficient hygiene precautions, poor knowledge about all matters pertaining to health, but also poverty and other factors are held responsible for half of all illnesses of Africa's male population.

R. Tan from the Asia Pacific Council for the Study of the Aging Male in Malaysia painted in his article a rather contrasting picture of the state of health of Asian men. Life expectancy varies greatly and spans from 50 years in Cambodia and Myanmar to 80 years in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. While life expectancy for men in Asian countries is relatively high, health expectancy, that is the years during which one will live in a state of relative health, has not developed so positively.

The most important risk factor threatening the health of Asian men is cigarette smoking. More than 60% of Asian men light up - compared to 8% of the women - and the numbers are still climbing in both sexes. Nowadays, the most prevalent diseases are already the same as those most frequently occurring in the western world, such as cardiovascular diseases, overweight, diabetes, etc... It is to be expected, that the highest percentage of older people anywhere in the world will be living in Asia.

W. Courtnay (USA) recalled in his contribution for the proceedings of the WCMH 2001, that, although the majority of scientific studies are conducted with men as subjects, their results have never been specifically used for the promotion of men's health. He went on by stressing the necessity of analyzing typically male risk behavior patterns, male attitudes towards health, and the associated physiological and psychological factors in order to establish and promote targeted strategies for the improvement of men's health.

A. Brown from the Men's Health Information and Resource Center of the University of Western Sidney, Australia, reported on men's health in Australia. Life expectancy of Australian men is six years lower than in women (75 years compared to 81 years). In contrast, indigenous Australian men (aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander men) have a life expectancy of 53 years. In general, however, the health data and facts regarding men's health in Australia are comparable with the data from other health reports such as the Viennese report "The Men's Health".

During the 1st World Congress on Men's Health, the "European Men's Health Forum" was launched in cooperation with Peter Baker from the "Men's Health Forum", UK. This clearly represents an important step for the promotion of men's health in Europe. The goal of the Forum is to convince national, regional, and local institutions all over Europe to include male specific issues in their health policies and action plans. In Europe, the number of lost years (that means, how many years one lives less than one's statistical life expectancy) in men is twice as high as that in women.

Sex differences occur throughout the life span from intrauterine environment, through early development and puberty to adulthood.Their specific expression varies at different stages of life.To continue to advance human health, health care and medical practice, research on and knowledge of sex differences in health and illness across the life span are essential.( "Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter?" T.M. Wizemann et al., Institute of Medicine, National Academy Press)

The First World Congress on Men's Health is regarded as a further important step in the pursuit of better health and increased quality of life for both men and women. After all, our goal must be that both sexes grow old together in good health!