Recent studies have shown that more men are dying from coronavirus compared to women. The possible reason for this is a spectrum from biology to the bad habits of men.
Last month, Frontiers in Public Health published a study that reported that men and women are both more likely to contract the coronavirus. Still, the same study showed that there is a higher possibility that men are going to suffer rigorous effects of the novel coronavirus.
Statistics All Over the World
The Chinese researchers who conducted the study said that in a group of COVD-19 patients, more than 70 percent of those who did not survive were men.
In another study that these Chinese researchers conducted, they saw the same results from the 2003 outbreak of SARS or the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
It was not only in China that these results were seen. In Europe, the World Health Organization reported that 63 percent of the deaths in the continent were among men.
In Rome, the Higher Health Institute also found in their studies that among Italians who were hospitalized due to the virus, 8 percent of men died while only 5 percent of the women did not survive.
In the United States, particularly in New York City, the rate of dying men is doubled compared to women. The health department of New York City reported that in April, 43 out of 100,000 men die due to COVID-19, while only 23 women die for every 100,000 women.
Why is COVID-19 possibly more deadly to men than women?
According to an infectious disease expert, Dr. Stephen Berger, heart disease is more common to aging men than aging women. Studies also show that high blood pressure and liver disease are more widespread to men than women. All of these diseases contribute to more negative consequences with the coronavirus.
Enzymes, Immune Systems of Men and Women
A recent study showed that the blood of men has a higher ACE2 or angiontensin-converting enzyme. This enzyme is the one that empowers the coronavirus to infect healthy cells.
That is primarily the reason why researchers believe that men are more exposed to COVID-19.
Aside from the enzymes produced by the body, genetics also plays a big role in the effect of COVID-19 to men.
The extra X chromosome of women is the reason why women have a stronger immune system compared to men.
Because of the results of these studies, two clinical trials have been prompted in the United States. In the trials, men who are COVID-19 positive are given sex hormones like estrogen, to see if it will help in recovering from the illness.
The rate of death among men during a pandemic is not new. According to researches, during the 1918 worldwide flu, adult males died at a much higher rate than women. One reason for this could be because more men had lung-damaging tuberculosis back then.
Another factor that may be considered is the behavior of men. According to Dr. Berger, men are at more risk because they tend to be more exposed to larger crowds.
