Hospitalization and mortality from COVID-19: gender differences

According to a new study, men with COVID-19 had significantly higher rates of hospitalization and transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). A higher percentage of males who died of COVID-19 than females, according to the study published in the journal Women’s Health Magazine.

Joanne Michelle Gomez, MD, Rush University Medical Center, and her co-authors studied the first 8,108 positive COVID-19 patients who presented to the Rush University system from March 1 to June 21, 2020. 19% of males needed hospitalization, compared with 13% females. Eight percent of men compared to 4% of women required an escalation of ICU care. The authors also reported a significantly increased need for vasopressor support and endotracheal intubation among men.

“A significant independent association between male sex and hospital mortality was observed in representing the total cohort of COVID-19 positive patients,” the authors state. “The interaction between biological, hormonal and gender behavioral factors is probably responsible for the worst results observed in males in COVID-19 “infection.

“The results of this study clearly show better results for women infected with COVID-19. The authors propose some biological, hormonal and behavioral factors this could be protective femaleshe says Women’s Health Magazine Editor-in-Chief Susan G. Kornstein, MD, executive director of the Commonwealth University Women’s Health Institute of Virginia, Richmond, VA.