Sex Differences in the Outcome of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov September 16, 2024

Among patients admitted to ICU for severe COVID-19, males experienced higher severity of illness and more frequent intervention than females. Ultimately, the hazard of death was moderately elevated in males compared to females despite greater PE and cardiac arrest.

Overall, 10,259 patients (3,314 females, 6,945 males) were included with a median age of 60 (interquartile range [IQR]=49-68) and 59 (IQR=49-67) years, respectively.

Baseline characteristics were similar between sexes.

More females were non-smokers (65% vs. 44 %, p < 0.01) and obese (39% vs. 30 %, p < 0.01), compared to males. Also, males received greater ICU intervention (mechanical ventilation, prone ventilation, vasopressors, and tracheostomy) than females. Males had a greater hazard of death (compared to females, HR=1.14; 95 % CI=1.02-1.26). Adjustment for complications during hospital stay did not alter the hazard of death (HR=1.16; 95 % CI=1.05-1.28).