Divorced Men ‘More Likely To Die From Serious Heart Conditions Than Their Ex-Wives’

DIVORCED men are more likely to die from serious heart conditions than their ex-wives, according to new research.

Scientists from Birmingham's Aston University found that men whose wives had died were 11 per cent more likely to be killed by a heart attack than women.



Divorced men are more likely to die from heart disease than women, scientists have found

Bereavement is also worse for men’s health, perhaps because they struggle to look after themselves. Widowers were 10 per cent more likely to die from heart failure than among women whose husbands had died.

While married men are up to six per cent more likely to be killed by their dodgy tickers than their wives are.

The study analysed almost two million people admitted to hospital in the north of England with a heart problem between 2000 and 2014.

It is hoped the research, presented at the British Cardiovascular Society’s annual conference in Manchester today, will help heart patients get the support they need.

It showed that single men with heart failure – severe heart damage that is often caused by a heart attack and made worse by booze – were 13 per cent less likely to die during the 14 years of the study than their female counterparts.

Researcher Rahul Potluri said: “Men may be less worried about being single and so less likely to see solace in alcohol than women.”

In contrast, married men with atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat – were 6 per cent more likely to die than married women with the same condition.

Dr Potluri said this might be because they are less likely to take their tablets. Money worries may also take their toll.

Higher rates of smoking and drinking could help explain why divorced men with an irregular heartbeat were 14 per cent more likely to die than women in the same position.

Professor Metin Avkiran, of the British Heart Foundation, said: “heart attack, atrial fibrillation and heart failure can all cut life short.

“Widowed or divorced men and single women may be most in need of support to help minimise their risk of dying from these conditions.”

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