Women Seem to Have Better COVID-19 Outcomes Than Men. Here ’s a Theory Why

Getting vaccinated and boosted dramatically increases the likelihood of surviving a case of COVID-19, but many risk factors—like being biologically male—are outside of people’s control. In the U.S., 20% more men have died from COVID-19 than women, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Scientists theorize that the difference in risk between the two sexes may, in part, come down to the hormone estrogen, which plays a role in the immune system. New research published in BMJ Open on Feb. 14 links estrogen levels to women’s likelihood of dying after they contract COVID-19. In the study, researchers looked at Swedish national health registry data from more than 16,000 women, ages 50 to 80, who had tested positive for COVID-19 between Feb. 4 and Sept. 14 of 2020. Most had gone through menopause, a time during which estrogen typically drops. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Researchers were particularly interested in the women in the group who were taking medications that affect estrogen levels: 227 were on endocrine therapy, a treatment for breast cancer that lowers estrogen, and about 2,500 were undergoing hormone replacement therapy, which increases estrogen levels in order to reduce menopausal symptoms. After researchers factored in the women’s comorbidities, age, and socio-economic factors, they found that women who were taking medications that raised estrogen levels were about half as likely to die...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized COVID-19 Source Type: news