[Sex mortality differences in Denmark 1840-2005. Women live longer than men, but great changes during the last 50 years].

Introduction: The study examines sex mortality differences in Denmark 1840-2005 with focus on time trends.
Materials and Methods: The material is based on cause of death statistics. The mortality is expressed for men and women by life expectancy and age and cause specific mortality rates.
Results: Since 1840 life expectancy has increased for both sexes, and Danish women have constantly had a longer life expectancy than Danish men. Until 1950 the difference was 2-3 years, but then the difference increased to 6 years and is now about 4 years. Since 1900 the mortality rate for children below one year of age has constantly been 20-40% higher among boys than among girls. From 1900 until 1950 only a minor sex difference was seen among adults, but then substantial sex differences appeared. Since 1920 there have only been minor sex differences for deaths due to influenza, infections and colorectal cancer. For heart diseases, diabetes and stroke the male excess mortality increased. For deaths related to smoking and alcohol great changes in sex differences have appeared since 1950, likewise for suicide, traffic accidents and accidental poisonings.
Conclusion: In the last 160 years Danish women have had a longer life expectancy than Danish men. Notable changes in sex difference in life expectancy in the last 50 years can mainly be attributed to diseases and causes of deaths closely related to life style and health behaviour interacting with living conditions.