Tunisia study finds women face higher mortality from heart disease and hypertension

A recent study conducted in Tunisia using 2022 data from the National Institute of Public Health shows marked gender gaps in mortality. Women experience higher mortality indices for rheumatic and joint diseases (index 2.0), nervous system disorders (1.27), endocrine and metabolic diseases (1.22), and circulatory conditions, with heart disease and hypertension reaching an index of 2.24. Cerebrovascular disease (1.23), Alzheimer’s disease (1.67) and dementia (1.50) also rank higher for women. By contrast, men have higher mortality from malignant tumours (0.78), external causes (0.63) and chronic respiratory illnesses such as lung cancer (0.21).

The researchers attribute these differences to a mix of biological factors and social determinants, and they call for stronger gender‑focused public‑health policies, prevention programmes, and care organisation that consider age and regional disparities.