Why is coronavirus killing more men than women?

Research on the novel coronavirus is still in progress which means there is still many unknown factors that people are unaware about the virus. However, most of the available data confirmed that men have a higher fatality rate than women.

Tommy Hilton, in a report published in Al Arabiya, has highlighted why more men is infected with the novel coronavirus than women.

Scientist noticed the shocking ratio from the  first data came out of China, the epicenter that more men were dying than women. Later,  when the virus swept the world, various countries after initial research found the same.

After reviewing around 44,000 cases in China, the Chinese Center for Disease and Prevention found that men were found to have a higher death rate: 2.8 percent compared to women's 1.7 percent. Further studies also  indicate that men have a higher death rate.

According to data collected by the Global 50/50 project accurate as of April 3, men made up 69 percent of the deaths from coronavirus in both Italy and Spain.

Dr Maher Balkis, an associate staff physician, infectious diseases, at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, confirmed these findings, reported Al Arabia.

He pointed to preliminary data that suggested that 60 percent of COVID-19 cases globally were men, as well as research from China which indicates that men are 65 percent more likely to die from the virus.

"Data from around the world does seem to indicate that men are more susceptible to infection by the virus that causes COVID-19 than women. In addition, data shows that men are significantly more likely to become seriously ill and die from the disease," explained Dr Balkis. However, the data is still preliminary and scientists still need more concrete data for stronger conclusions.

The explanation:

Several explanations have been highlighted to explain the unexpected death rates. Some findings revealed the difference in behavior between men and women.

Lifestyle choices and behaviors played vital role where men are less likely to seek medical help at the first signs of disease or to follow public heath advice, according to Dr Balkis. 

Men are also more likely to drink and smoke, which according to some research is a higher chance of dying from Covid-19. Drinking and smoking also increase the chance of having preexisting illnesses which increase the death rate from the disease.

Studies also showed that men are less likely to wash their hands which is a  key way of preventing infection.

Others consider sex-based differences in the immune system, the human body's form of defense against illness.

"Women are less susceptible to infection and ten times more likely to develop an auto-immune disorder," said Dr Balkis.

"Both hormone balance and genetic factors have been linked to this disparity. Estrogen, which women have much more of than men, plays a role in increasing women's antiviral response," he explained.

"A significant number of genes that regulate immune response are encoded on the X chromosome, of which women have two compared to men's one. Research into the difference between men and women's immune systems is ongoing," he added.