Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 21, 2025
An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
Change in Covid-19 infection and mortality rates in postmenopausal women
Angelo Cagnacci1, Anjeza Xholli
1Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, DINOGMI, IRCCS-Ospedale San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Objective:
To evaluate whether the rates of COVID-19 infection and death in women versus men differ with age.
Methods:
From data provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics, we calculated the respective proportions of women among COVID-infected versus noninfected populations and male versus female infection and death rates, stratifying the results into 10-year age groups.
Results:
The prevalence of COVID-19 infection was 3.6% higher in women than in the general population from 20 to 59 years of age, then decreased to -13.3% below that of the general population between 60 and 89 years of age. Death rates among infected women showed the opposite age-related trend. In infected women, the mortality rate was -77.4% lower than that of men aged 20 to 59 years. Between 60 and 89 years of age, the difference in women decreases to -34.5% below that of men.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate opposing age-related trends among women in infection and death rates due to COVID-19. Further studies are needed to examine the contribution of the phases of the female reproductive cycle to the observed variations.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Menopause
01:24Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
01:22Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH...
01:12Relative Risk