Men and boys account for just over 46% of all non-obstetrical hospitalizations. But because they tend to delay the care and treatment of disease, their prognosis once they wind up in the hospita is on average worse than it is for women and girls, according to the latest statistics from the government’s Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The in-hospital death rate for males in 2003 was about 12% higher than for females, even though the average age of hospitalized males was nearly five years younger. The average daily hospital charge for males was also 13% higher.

Nearly one in four hospital stays among males was for a condition of the circulatory system, with coronary atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) the most common reason. A number of conditions were also seen at much higher rates among hospitalized men. For example, admission rates were between 50% to 200% higher for reasons such as alcohol-related mental disorders, heart attacks, hepatitis, gout, alcohol-related liver disease, injuries due to motor vehicle accidents, head injuries, arterial aneuryms and crushing or internal injuries. How come? In the dry, but telling language of the government report, “Many of these conditions are related to lifestyle.”

The top 10 conditions for which men were hospitalized and number
of admissions, based on 2003 data (the most recent) were:

1) Coronary atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
764,900

2) Pneumonia (except that caused by tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases)
626,400

3) Congestive heart failure
517,900

4) Heart attack
443,400

5) Nonspecific chest pain
378,000

6) Cardiac dysrhythmias (irregular heart beat)
344,200

7) Complication of medical devices (for example, from heart monitors)
310,800

8) Back problems
309,700

9) Depression or bipolar disorder
278,300

10) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
273,100

What it means: The conventional wisdom that men don't take such good care of themselves tends to be true.

From the Archives:

Feb. 16, 2006: Spouse in the Hospital? Take special care

Sept. 5, 2005: How New Heart-Scanning Technology Could Save Your Life