James Warren
A STUDY by the Junta de Andalucia has suggested men are more at risk from COVID-19 than women once the virus has been contracted.
The findings have now been published from the study, which looked at the demographics most affected by the virus throughout the first three weeks of September.
As of September 22, there were 981 coronavirus patients admitted to Andalucia hospitals, 714 of which were male.
Despite this, of the total confirmed cases, 30.042 were female while 26.993 were male.
It means men appear to be experiencing a higher severity of the virus once contracted.
This is echoed by the mortality rates, with 951 of the deaths over the period studied being male and 767 being female.
As was the situation at the height of the pandemic, most deaths over the studied period occurred in those aged 75 and above.
While the majority of those were female, in the younger age ranges, 65-75, 55-65 and 45-55, men consistently registered approximately 60% more deaths.
Adolescents have remained a minority in the mortality rates, with just five deaths registered, however all of those were male.
Studies conducted across the globe in the most affected countries such as Spain, the US and China have yet to yield definitive results as to why the gender gap is so high.
Initial data pointed to social and situational factors such as living environments and health factors such as smoking and obesity.
However biologists are certain that there are underlying biological factors that are causing more men to suffer the severe consequences of COVID-19.
