§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what factors he attributes the relatively greater increase in life expectancy for females as compared with males at age 15 years over the period 1953 to 1983.
§ Mr. Ray WhitneyExamination of age-specific mortality rates for males and females for 1953 and 1983 at ages 15 and over shows that there is a major difference in ischaemic heart disease mortality for the two sexes. Particularly at ages 40 to 44 and 65 to 69 inclusive, the rates rose appreciably for males over the 30-year period, while they fell for females (or rose to a small extent for three of the age-groups).
Because of the major contribution that ischaemic heart disease makes to all cause mortality, the difference in trend in death rates from this condition is reflected in the relatively greater increase in the expectation of life for females compared with males.