Why are men more susceptible to die from Covid then women?

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Priyanka Tanwer

It has been more than one and half years since the Covid pandemic hit the world. It continues to present the surprising data that more men die from Covid than women. This phenomenon not only exists in India but is also reflected in other parts of the world.  

The data published by Lancet study which revealed an estimated 25,500 children lost their mother and 90,751 their father. The data points to the fact that men might be more susceptible to COVID-19 than women.

According to a study published in the European Heart Journal, men have greater blood levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) than women. The presence of ACE2 facilitatethe corona virus to infect healthy cells.

Another study published in the US' National Center for Biotechnology Information has found that the biological differences in the immune systems between men and women exist which may impact one's ability to fight an infection including SARS-2-CoV-2."

"Generally, females are more resistant to infections than men, and this is possibly mediated by several factors including sex hormones and high expression of coronavirus receptors (ACE 2) in men but also life style, such as higher levels of smoking and drinking among men as compared to women," reads the findings.

The study further pointed out that additionally, women have a more responsible attitude toward the Covid-19 pandemic than men. They are undertaking more preventive measures such as frequent hand washing, wearing of face mask, and staying indoors in their homes.

However, doctors narrate it differently. They point out that men are more physically active than women. They interact more in society if we talk in urban areas. Hence, they have more risk of getting the corona virus infection.

Dr Jugal Kishore, Director-Head, Department of Community Medicine, Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, told DTMT that males are more mobile than females. They have more interactions with others than females. They are more active than women. Therefore, males will have more chances of infections than females.

"Secondly, I feel that men have more communicable diseases in comparison to females. They suffer more from diabetes and hypertension. They also suffer more from cardiovascular problems than women. Men have more stress related issues than women. So these are few predispositions that could result in more men dying due to Covid," he added.


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