June 12-18 is Men’s Health Week which is celebrated around the world with countries focusing on different themes, all very important.

Ireland is focusing on ‘The Picture of Health’ and what does that look like to you.

UK are looking at ‘Men’s health and the internet’.

Denmark – ‘Men & health care and health care & men’, addressing the relationship between men and health services.

New Zealand are asking men to find out ‘What’s your score’, a test to get an indicator on your health routines; and

Australia’s theme this year is ‘Healthy Habits’. For further details and information please visit the website Men’s Health Week 2023

The Perth Blood Institute (PBI) website and Thrombosis Australia information portal (managed by the PBI team) provides information and research related to blood disorders and thrombotic events. We include preventative measures and reducing the risk of developing blood clots.

The risk of a first venous thrombosis is twice as high in men than in women, once female reproductive risk factors are taken into account. Research has also found that the likelihood of recurrence was 30.7% among men compared to 8.5% in women. Regarding treatment with anticoagulation, a study found that among patients with a first unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE), those who ceased after 3-months, men had a higher long-term risk of recurrent VTE.

The definitive causal factors as to why men have an increased risk is still unclear, however some research hypothesize that it may be genetic differences; increased height, and an X- or Y-linked mutation that has a sex-specific effect, may cause the sex difference in both first and recurrent VTE.

Heart health

Cardiovascular health is also an important factor with regards to stroke and thrombotic events. In 2017-2018 the Australian Bureau of Statistics found the prevalence of heart disease is slightly higher among men, 5.4% compared to 4.2% in women. After the age of 65 males also had a higher rate – 65-74 years, men 19.6%; women 12.4%; >75years, men 31.5%; women 20.4%.

The Australian Institute of Health also found the prevalence of heart, stroke and vascular disease was higher in men (6.5%) compared to women (4.8%) in 2017-2018. These statistics are consistent from the age of 45.

Healthy lifestyle and dietary habits may play a role in decreasing the risk of blood clots and cardiovascular disease. Please visit our website for Tools and Resources to help you include healthy habits into your daily lives.

Therefore, the theme for Australia’s Men’s Health Week ‘Healthy Habits’ is fitting as this may help reduce the risk of thrombosis and improve heart health.

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References

• Sex Difference in Risk of Second but Not of First Venous Thrombosis | Circulation (ahajournals.org)
• The Risk of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism in Men and Women (nejm.org)
• Long term risk of symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism after discontinuation of anticoagulant treatment for first unprovoked venous thromboembolism event: systematic review and meta-analysis (nih.gov)
• Differential risks in men and women for first and recurrent venous thrombosis: the role of genes and environment (wiley.com)
• Heart, stroke and vascular disease, 2017-18 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)
• Heart, stroke and vascular disease: Australian facts, All heart, stroke and vascular disease - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au)
• Heart disease prevention: Strategies to keep your heart healthy - Mayo Clinic