Explained: Why is COVID-19 killing more men than women?
With rising number of COVID-19 deaths worldwide, it is being said that the deadly virus is more likely to kill men than women. Especially middle-aged and older men, and those with weak immune system.
A study conducted by Chinese researchers examining data from Wuhan, Hubei, and other affected parts of China showed a fatality rate of 2.8% for men, as compared to 1.7% for women. Ever since the coronavirus hit China, men were falling sick at a higher rate than women.
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As on April 9, more than 60 per cent of over 6,200 total deaths have been men in New York. The same pattern was found in other countries— including Italy, Iran, South Korea, Germany, and France. A data from the national statistics office of the United Kingdom showed that men were twice as likely as women to die from COVID-19, reports Indian Express.
Various reports across the globe suggest that men are contracting coronavirus more than women.
What are the reasons?
Though researchers are don’t have a definite answer for this, these could be some of the reasons.
- One of the reasons could be higher number of smokers in Men. In China, about half of men smoke, whereas only about 2 in 100 women are smokers. This hypothesis has been backed by data from China in a scientific paper. Smokers often touching their mouths, sharing cigarettes could be the reasons.
- Behavioural factors among women could be another hypothesis. Studies suggest that women are more careful than men about washing their hands using soap. They are also likely to obey advisories than men. However, some scientists argue that generalising these such factors across populations is unscientific.
- Also, men are more likely to take the coronavirus threat lightly and could behave irresponsibly, showed a recent survey conducted by Reuters.
- Third one could be biological factors. Hormones might also help provide women with a more effective defense. As reported by IE, men have a lower innate antiviral immune response to a range of infections.
(With inputs from agencies)