Sex differences in COVID-19 susceptibility – Reductionistic and holistic perspectives

Infection with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is associated with different clinical outcomes in men and women. Rates of hospitalization and mortality are higher in men, but late post-COVID complications may be more frequent in women. A variety of differences in comorbidities, behavior, and biology between males and females, in particular sex-related differences in the immune system, have been implicated. This review discusses how the integration of holistic and reductionistic research perspectives is providing a comprehensive understanding of the impact of sex on COVID-19 susceptibility and underscores the need to incorporate sex-specific reporting and analysis in future research. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fungal Diseases and COVID-19

The physiological factors of COVID-19 infection and the environmental factors of treatment have predisposed a larger patient population to fungal infections. In this review, we provide an overview of the three most frequently documented fungal infections associated with COVID-19: aspergillosis, mucormycosis, and candidemia. For all three secondary infections, we review the literature making efforts to determine the incidence of infection, physiological or environmental causes of co-infection with COVID-19, and the mortality of infection both with and without COVID-19. These infections vary in their etiology in association with COVID-19 infection, in addition to their recommended treatments and mortality. Ultimately, we demonstrate the importance of early diagnosis of secondary infections and the proper identification of fungal pathogens for treatment purposes, while also highlighting research gaps in this new field. © 2023 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.