Molecular Mechanisms Leading to Sex-Specific COVID-19 Prognosis and Targeted Therapies

Clinical and epidemiological studies identified male sex as a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes and mortality. The document discussed the lack of guidelines for addressing sex-specific COVID-19 prognosis due to insufficient research on male vs. female host responses to SARS-CoV-2. It explored three molecular-level differences between sexes: interactions with ACE2 during viral entry, differential regulation of the renin-angiotensin system, and disparities in immune response and endocrine regulation. These differences potentially made males more vulnerable to severe COVID-19. The study highlighted the clinical implications of these mechanisms and proposed targeted therapies to reduce COVID-19 severity in critically ill patients.