Is the Severity of Sars Cov2 Infection Dependent on the Patient's Gender?

ABSTRACT

Objective: The COVID 19 pandemic has been the biggest health problem in the last 2 years, exerting huge pressure on the global healthcare system. Studies showed a predisposition in men to develop more severe forms, with a higher mortality rate, in comparison to women. Also, men infected with SARS CoV2 would be at higher risk of hospitalization in acute intensive care units (ICU) with complications that could lead to death Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study that included 177 hospitalized patients in a time frame of 18 months with SARS CoV2 infection confirmed by RT PCR testing in the Pneumology Department of the Clinical Hospital of Pneumophtisiology of Constanta, Romania. The information needed to conduct the study was gathered from the patient's general clinical observation sheet and included the smoker/non-smoker status of the patient, age, symptoms associated with COVID19 infection, biological data, form of disease, treatment administered during hospitalization. Result(s) The study group included 177 patients, 42% of whom were women (82) and 54% were men (95), suggesting a higher incidence of SARS CoV2 infection in males. The most dominant symptom was cough in 62% cases of women and 56% cases of men. Females had a higher incidence of anosmia (11%) and ageusia (2%) compared to males (anosmia, ageuzia-1%). A higher predominance of women developing moderate forms compared to males. Severe forms were found in 22% of cases in women and 23% in men. Conclusion(s) It is inconclusive if male patients show a more severe evolution of COVID19 infection compared to females. Women have shown a predisposition to symptoms such as ageusia, anosmia and a more severe inflammatory syndrome. Copyright © 2021 Authors. All rights reserved.