Men’s Health Week (June 10-16) is recognised around the world and focuses on different and all highly relevant topics addressing men’s health. Australia’s theme this year is ‘Men’s health checks’ and for further details and information please visit the website Men’s Health Week 2024 – Australian Men’s Health Forum.

The Perth Blood Institute (PBI) website and Thrombosis Australia information portal provides research related to blood disorders and thrombotic events. We include preventative measures and advice for 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 hypothesise 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.

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

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.

Stay on-top of your heart health! Recommended regular health checks: *Sugar levels* *Blood pressure* *Cholesterol*

There has also been an association found between hypertension (high blood pressure) and a prothrombotic state. Prior to age 64, men are at a higher risk of hypertension than women. For more information, please visit our webpage Hypertension and the prothrombotic-state.

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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
• Heart health – Harvard Health Publishing