Comparative study of the severity of Covid-19 infection between female and male patients

Background: Different studies have identified the prognostic factors of COVID-19 infection. These studies have revealed that COVID-19 infection is more severe in males than in females. The aim of our study was to compare the severity of COVID-19 infection between males and females in terms of clinical, biological, radiological, and evolutionary aspects.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection over a 6-month period from 1 August 2021 to 1 February 2022.

Results: The comparison of clinical, biological, radiological, and evolutionary severity factors of covid-19 infection between the two sexes revealed that this infection was more severe in males. Statistically significant differences were noted for the rate of high dimers (p =0.01) and for lung involvement greater than 25% on chest CT (Computed tomography) (p =0.008).

Conclusion: The severity of covid-19 infection in men is due to biological differences between men and women in the renin-angiotensin system, the immune system, genetics, and sex hormones. Further research into the pathophysiological mechanisms behind this finding is needed.