Gender differences in patients with SARS-CoV2:a retrospective observational cohort study

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim of the study The SARS-CoV 2 pandemicinvolved about 230.00 people in Italy with about 35.000 deaths.In China the lethality rate of confirmed cases is 4.7% in men compared to 2.8% in women. In Italy women represent 34.0% of thetotal and are older than men (respectively 83 years vs 79). A single-center observational cohort study was conducted to evaluategender differences in clinical features, laboratory, length of stayand mortality in patients admitted in sub-intensive COVID Unit ofF. Miulli Hospital (Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari, Italy) from 17 marchto 17 may 2020.Materials and Methods: The data contained in the medicalrecords were studied.Results: A total of 174 patients were analyzed. Females accountfor 39.6%. The average age was 66 yrs and 70 yrs respectively inmales and females. No difference was observed with respect to themain inflammation markers (IL6, d-Dimer, CRP);the length of hospital stay was similar, 20 days in females and 21 days in males.Chronic heart failure, COPD, diabetes, chronic renal failure, wereequally represented in the two groups. Disease severity and mortalitywere similar. The only significant difference (p <0.02) was in the useof hydroxychloroquine, prevalent in the group of male subjects.Discussion and Conclusions: The data of our study, although witha limited sample of subjects, do not show significant differencesbetween males and females. Length of stay and mortality are notinfluenced by gender. We could conclude that when women getsick they feel the disease in the same way as men.