Effect of sex and sex hormones on SARS-COV-2: a review article

When men are exposed to the coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2), they show severe consequences of this disease, including a higher death rate, than women. These differences are probably due to sex-specific behaviors, genetic and hormonal factors, and sex differences in biological pathways associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several socio-behavioral factors are involved in pathogenesis in men compared to women. However, sex-biological differences and their effects on SARS-COV-2 outcomes have received less attention. Sexual-biological differences between healthy populations and age- and sex-specific conditions such as pregnancy and menopause are also discussed. More extensive studies with gender-specific reporting and robust analyzes are needed to determine how gender can alter the cellular and molecular pathways associated with SARS-CoV-2. This work will improve biomarker interpretation and clinical management of SARS-COV-2 patients by facilitating a personalized medicine approach to risk stratification, prevention, and treatment. The present review summarizes the available literature on proposed molecular and cellular markers associated with SARS-COV-2 infection, their association with health outcomes, and any reported variation by gender.