Gender difference in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Abstract

Introduction: In Bangladesh, male were most commonly affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than female. There is a paucity of data regarding the gender differences in outcome of COVID-19 patients. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare demographics and clinical characteristics, and in-hospital outcome of COVID-19 positive male vs female patients.

Method: This prospective observational study included all consecutive confirmed symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients from March 8^th 2020 to July 7^th 2023 at the National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute of Bangladesh. Baseline and clinical characteristics & in-hospital outcome of both genders were assessed for comparison.

Result: This study included a total of 2506 confirmed COVID-19 positive patients. Of them 1684 (67.2%) patients were male and 822 (32.8%) were female. Male were older (52.45 ±14.86 years vs 45.90 ± 17.33 years; p=0.001)than female and had more co-morbidities (p= 0.001) than female. Among healthcare personnel, 27.0% were female and 13.6% were male (p=0.001). Male had more risk factors and comorbidities than female: cardiovascular disease (81.1% vs 64.4%; p=0.001); hypertension (62.8% vs 50.0%; p=0.001); dyslipidemia (27.5% vs 20.9%;p=0.001) and obesity (35.0% vs 25.4%; p=0.001). Female were more symptomatic (73.7% vs 69.7%; p=0.03) than male. Cough, sore throat, abdominal symptoms, numbness and dizziness were significantly higher in female than male. Male had more severe form of COVID-19 disease {(moderate: 2.4% vs 1.9%; p=0.49), (severe: 6.8% vs 5.2%; p=0.13)}. Male were more hospitalized (44.4% vs 34.9%; p=0.009) than female and most of the female treated either in home isolation or in institutional isolation (65.1% vs 59.6%; p=0.008). Male had non-significantly higher mortality rate than female (4.2% vs 3.5%; p=0.4).

Conclusion: COVID-19 male were usually older, had more comorbidities, a higher probability of hospitalization, increased risk of moderate-severe COVID-19 and associated with non-significantly higher mortality rate as compared with female.