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Are we equal in adversity? Does Covid-19 affect women and men differently?

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES:This article examines whether women are less prone than men to Covid-19 infections and their complications. DATA SOURCES:We reviewed available databases and searched systematically for publications. To be taken into account, data had to be broken down by gender. There was no study evaluation nor quantification synthesis, due to the large heterogeneity of the studies. Nineteen databases were selected. 73 publications were considered and 33 were selected, to which 12 more were added. RESULTS:Globally, the proportion of men and women who tested positive is comparable. However, men are about 60 % more likely to be severely ill or to die from the complications of Covid-19 than are women. LIMITATIONS:The study was hampered by a large heterogeneity in testing and reporting of the data. CONCLUSIONS:Although in the pandemic men die more frequently than women from Covid-19, it is not clear whether this is due to biological differences between men and women, differences in behavioral habits, or differences in the rates of co-morbidities. IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS:Countries and studies should report their data by age, gender and co-morbidities. This may have implications in terms of vaccination strategies, the choice of treatments and future consequences for long-term health issues concerning gender equality.

SUBMITTER: Rozenberg S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7227588 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Are we equal in adversity? Does Covid-19 affect women and men differently?

Rozenberg Serge S Vandromme Jean J Martin Charlotte C

Maturitas 20200515

<h4>Background & objectives</h4>This article examines whether women are less prone than men to Covid-19 infections and their complications.<h4>Data sources</h4>We reviewed available databases and searched systematically for publications. To be taken into account, data had to be broken down by gender. There was no study evaluation nor quantification synthesis, due to the large heterogeneity of the studies. Nineteen databases were selected. 73 publications were considered and 33 were selected, to ...[more]

PMID: 32425315

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Project description:IntroductionTo assess differences in associations of ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) as well as retinal and retrobulbar blood flow between men and women with primary open angle glaucoma (OAG).MethodsA total of 116 patients with OAG (age 66.9 ± 10.9 years, 70 females) participating in the Indianapolis Glaucoma Progression Study were assessed for OPP, retinal microcirculation, and retrobulbar blood flow. Confocal scanning laser Doppler flowmetry measured peripapillary retinal capillary blood flow. Color Doppler imaging measured peak systolic (PSV) and diastolic blood flow velocities and vascular resistance in the ophthalmic (OA), central retinal (CRA), and nasal and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries (N/T PCA). Bivariate Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed.ResultsIn female patients with OAG, inferior retinal capillary flow was associated with OPP (r = 0.246, P = 0.044). In men, superior and inferior sector retinal blood flow was associated with OPP (r = -0.402, P = 0.006 and r = -0.357, P = 0.016, respectively). There was no statistically significant association between OPP and retrobulbar blood vessel flow velocities in male patients with OAG but there was an association between OA and TPCA PSV and OPP in female patients with OAG (r = 0.290, P = 0.015 and r = 0.357, P = 0.002, respectively). In female patients with OAG, multivariate regression showed no statistically significant effect of any variable on the superior retinal capillary blood flow, with CRA PSV as a sole predictor to the inferior retinal sector (partial rho = 0.302, P = 0.015) and in male patients with OAG, superior sector retinal capillary blood flow was independently associated with intraocular pressure (partial rho = -0.371, P = 0.016) and OPP (partial rho = -0.456, P = 0.002) with a trend of association with OPP in the inferior retina (partial rho = -0.301, P = 0.053).ConclusionsThere was a positive linear association between retinal microcirculation and OPP in females and a negative association in males. Male and female patients with OAG may differ in their vascular autoregulation in response to changes in OPP.

Project description:Study questionDo inactivated coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines affect in-vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes among the vaccine recipients?Summary answerThe receipt of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines before ovarian stimulation has little effect on the outcomes of IVF, including ovarian stimulation outcomes, embryo development and pregnancy rates.What is known alreadyLimited studies have reported that COVID-19 vaccines do not affect ovarian function, embryo development or pregnancy outcomes.Study design, size, durationThis was a retrospective cohort study performed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University on 240 women vaccinated with either CoronaVac or Sinopharm COVID-19 before ovarian stimulation in the exposed group and 1343 unvaccinated women before ovarian stimulation in the unexposed group. All participants received fresh embryo transfers between March 1, 2021 and September 15, 2021. The included women were followed up until 12 weeks of gestation.Participants/materials, setting, methodsVaccination information of all subjects was followed up by a nurse, and the IVF data were obtained from the IVF data system. The following aspects were compared between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated groups: parameters of ovarian stimulation, embryo development and pregnancy rates. Regression analyses were performed to control for confounders of embryo development and pregnancy rates. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the baseline parameters of the two groups. The primary outcome was the ongoing pregnancy rate.Main results and the role of chanceLiner regression analysis revealed that the number of oocytes retrieved (regression co-effecient (B) = -0.299, P = 0.264), embryos suitable for transfer (B = -0.203, P = 0.127) and blastocysts (B = -0.250, P = 0.105) were not associated with the status of vaccination before ovarian stimulation, after adjusting for the confounders. The ongoing pregnancy rate in the women of the vaccinated group was not significantly lower than that in the unvaccinated group (36.3% vs. 40.7%, P = 0.199) (adjust odd ratio [aOR] = 0.91,95% CI = 0.68-1.22, P = 0.52). After PSM, the rates of ongoing pregnancy (36.0% vs. 39.9%, P = 0.272), implantation (35.4% vs. 38.3%, P = 0.325), biochemical pregnancy (47.3% vs. 51.6%, P = 0.232), clinical pregnancy (44.4% vs. 47.4%, P = 0.398) and early miscarriage (15.0% vs. 12.1%, P = 0.399) were not significantly different between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated groups.Limitations, reasons for cautionThis is a retrospective study of women with infertility. The results from the present study warrant confirmation by prospective studies with a larger cohort.Wider implications of the findingsThis is the first study with a large sample size on the effect of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines on ongoing pregnancy rates of women undergoing IVF. The present results showed that vaccination has no detrimental effect on IVF outcomes. Therefore, women are recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccines before undergoing their IVF treatment.Study funding/competing interest(s)Yixuan Wu contributed to the conception and design of the study and the drafting of the article, and was accountable for all aspects of the work. Yanshan Lin, Chunyan An, Lei Li, Qing Huang and Yaming Meng contributed to the follow up of the patients; Zijin Xu and Zhu Liang contributed to the statistical analyses; Mingzhu Cao and Sichen Li revised the manuscript; Haiying Liu contributed to the conception and design of the study; Jianqiao Liu was responsible for approval of the final version. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.Trial registration numberN/A.

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Are we equal in adversity? Does Covid-19 affect women and men differently?

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Are we equal in adversity? Does Covid-19 affect women and men differently?

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