Men with COVID-19 three times more likely to need ICU admission than women, suggests new study

Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been noted that men are more likely to get severe COVID-19 or die of the disease. However, the evidence had mostly been anecdotal.Now, a meta-analysis including more than three million global cases of COVID-19 shows that men who get coronavirus disease are three times more likely to need ICU admission than women, even though both the genders are equally likely to get the disease.NatThe studyTo confirm the relation between sex and mortality in COVID-19 patients, the researchers analysed about 107 different reports collected from all over the world with data from 1 January to 1 June, 2020.Here is what was found:

• About 90 reports recorded the number of people infected and sorted them by gender. As per these reports, more than 1.56 million women and almost 1.53 million men got the disease during the designated period.
• Around eight reports also noted ITU (intensive treatment unit) admissions along with the total positive cases and sorted them all by gender. These reports showed that out of a total of 193,383 women and 148,180 men who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 3,670 women and 8,397 men were admitted to the ITU during the studied duration.
• About 70 reports recorded the number of deaths by gender in all the reported COVID-19 positive cases. These reports included about 1.32 million men and more than 1.41 million women. Out of these, over 91,000 women and more than 120,000 men died.

Possible causesIn the study, the authors suggest that gender usually influences the outcome of infectious diseases regardless of age. Gender bias with worse outcomes in men has been previously noted in the SARS and MERS (two related coronaviruses) outbreaks.Experts suggest that women have comparatively higher CD8+ and CD4+ cells as well as B cells (immune system cells that help protect the body against infections).Women also produce more interferon (IFN) 1 which is a cytokine that helps fight viruses and is essential to mount a quick response against SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 causing virus. The higher concentration of IFN is due to the presence of two X chromosomes in women. Men have one X and one Y chromosome.A preprint study had indicated that estradiol (a type of estrogen) in women may be responsible for protecting them from the hyperinflammatory response associated with severe COVID-19.On the other hand, testosterone, the male sex hormone is found to have a suppressive effect on the immune system. It is also seen to promote cytokine levels and inflammation.Men also show a decline in B cells with age and their immune system ages quickly, which may be the reason behind the gender-bias seen in COVID-19 mortality.Apart from these, the study indicated that some socio-cultural and behavioural factors may be responsible for the elevated risk of ITU admission and death in COVID-19 positive men. For example, men have unequal access to healthcare and testing, they are more likely to smoke and less likely to wash their hands after using the restroom.For more information, read our article on Mild vs severe COVID-19.Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, India’s first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.