Why do more men die of the virus than women?
 | By Alexandra Sifferlin Senior Staff Editor, Opinion |
Almost two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most persistent demographic facts about the disease remains unexplained: Men who get infected are much more likely to get severely ill and die than women. |
This disparity in Covid-19 outcomes deserves further scrutiny, writes Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, in a guest essay. Not only are death rates from Covid-19 higher among men worldwide, but also one study showed that compared to women, men with Covid-19 had an almost 50 percent higher rate of respiratory intubation and a 22 percent longer hospital stay. |
What explains it? While men in the United States are less likely to be vaccinated compared to women, Emanuel argues that vaccination rates alone cannot be the only factor at play because the differences have been observed since early in the pandemic, before vaccines were available. |
Some researchers argue the factors are mostly social — perhaps men are less likely to wear masks. Others argue there are biological factors to consider. Some research suggests hormones may have a role in the immune response, for example. |
"Still, the reasons men seem to fare worse remain mostly a mystery," writes Emanuel. "Much more research is needed to understand it, and there are most likely several factors at play." |
This disparity is not just a statistical curiosity, he argues. It's something that must be understood in order to better respond to an illness that will likely be around in some form indefinitely. "Rigorously looking at the differences in Covid-19's toll and discovering the underlying causes is imperative to better understanding this disease — as well as other infectious diseases — and how to treat it," he writes. |
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