Objective: To analyze the gender differential in life expectancy in Italy from 1970 to 1997, to determine which ages and causes of death mostly influenced its trend.
Methods: Pollard method was used to explain which ages and which pathologies give the highest contribution to the gender differential.
Results: A slight reduction of the gender differential has been observed since 1980. The olds and very olds became the most relevant contributors to the differential. Cardiovascular diseases were the principal contributing causes of death until 1980 and Cancer replaced them afterwards.
Conclusion: Relatively recent adoption of unhealthy life styles by women together with an opposite process run by young men towards healthier behaviour, seem to be at the basis of the slight reduction of the gender differential in life expectancy observed since 1980.