An Assessment on the Impact of COVID-19 Infection in a Gender-Specific Manner

The document reviewed the impact of COVID-19 infection in a gender-specific manner, finding that male patients exhibited higher mortality rates compared to females. Factors contributing to this disparity included higher smoking rates in men, which increased susceptibility to severe outcomes due to elevated ACE2 expression, and testosterone's immunosuppressive effects. Additionally, males had higher rates of comorbidities like hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The study highlighted the role of sex hormones, with testosterone enhancing TMPRSS2 expression and estrogen boosting immune responses, potentially offering females protection against severe outcomes. The presence of a double X chromosome in females, carrying many immune-related genes, also contributed to their stronger immune response. The document suggested that understanding these differences could aid in developing tailored therapeutic approaches, such as using mesenchymal stem cells for critically ill male patients, and called for further research to improve public health strategies.