Is COVID-19 Gender-Sensitive?

The review found that while males and females had similar susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, males experienced higher severity and fatality rates. This was potentially due to biological factors such as higher expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in males, influenced by sex hormones, and behavioral factors like higher smoking rates and delayed healthcare-seeking behavior. Data from countries like China, the USA, and European nations consistently showed higher hospitalization and mortality rates among males. Understanding these gender differences was essential for developing effective treatments, with potential strategies including modulating ACE2 and TMPRSS2 levels and considering estrogen treatment, though further research was needed.