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Sex-differences in COVID-19 diagnosis, risk factors and disease comorbidities: A large US-based cohort study

Samer A Kharroubi1,2, Marwa Diab-El-Harake1

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.

Frontiers in Public Health
|December 5, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Men experience higher COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, with significant differences in sociodemographics and comorbidities observed between sexes. Hypertension and diabetes were more frequent in males, informing gender-specific health strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Sex and Gender in Medicine

Background:

  • COVID-19 disproportionately affects men, but the reasons remain unclear.
  • Investigating sex and gender differences is crucial for understanding disease outcomes.
  • Existing research lacks comprehensive analysis of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and comorbidity factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore sex-gender disparities in COVID-19 patients within a large US cohort.
  • To compare sociodemographic characteristics between male and female COVID-19 patients.
  • To examine sex differences in lifestyle factors and comorbidities among diagnosed individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study utilizing electronic medical records from January 2020 to December 2021.
  • Involved 62,310 patients with test-confirmed COVID-19.
  • Analysis included demographics, medical history, and comorbidities, with logistic regression for comorbidity analysis.

Main Results:

  • Significant sociodemographic differences were found between males and females (p < 0.05).
  • Males had a higher proportion of individuals aged ≥70 years and were more frequently smokers (p < 0.0001).
  • Hypertension (ORa = 66.19) and diabetes (ORa = 22.90) were significantly more prevalent in males.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding sex-gender differences in COVID-19 is vital for equitable health responses.
  • Findings can enhance the effectiveness of clinical practice and public health interventions.
  • This study highlights key differences in comorbidities that may explain differential outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19Healthjump dataSARS-CoV-2comorbiditiessex differences

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