Men with COVID-19 die. Women survive. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferretti, Virginia V.; Klersy, Catherine; Bruno, Raffaele; Cutti, Sara; Nappi, Rossella E.
• Is Part Of: Maturitas. Volume 158(2022)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 36
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-Cov-2 -- Gender -- Menopause -- Estrogens -- Androgens; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Middle Aged -- Periodicals; Climatère -- Périodiques; Ménopause -- Périodiques; Climacterium; Climacteric; Menopause; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 612.66
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.11.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-5122

Abstract

Highlights: Sex steroid hormones may account for the disparity in mortality between men and women with COVID-19. Menopause as a risk factor in the COVID-19 pandemic has not be proven. A higher mortality rate is evident in males only after age 65 (the rate is twice as high in the 65–79-year age group and 1.5-fold higher in those aged over 80). The higher mortality of men is mostly evident among those aged over 65 years, long after the average age of menopause. Abstract: The severity and mortality rate of COVID-19 differ between the sexes. Several biopsychosocial determinants may account for the better outcomes in women. The notion that sex steroid hormones account for the gender disparity is reasonable but not proven; the same is true of the role of menopause as a risk factor. A retrospective analysis of patients (=1764) hospitalized in Italy showed a higher mortality (HR 1.58, 95%CI 1.30–1.91, adjusted for age and multi-comorbidities) in males only after the age of 65 (the rate is twice as high in the 65–79-year age group and 1.5-fold higher in those aged over 80). The higher mortality of men is mostly evident among those aged over 65 years, long after the average age of menopause.