Dataset Information

Sex and gender differences in COVID-19: an Italian local register-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The present study aimed to explore differences in COVID-19 outcomes between male and female cases in the Apulian District of Foggia, Italy.

Design and setting

We performed a retrospective epidemiological study among all COVID-19 confirmed cases that occurred in the Apulian District of Foggia from 29 February to 30 June 2020. The surveillance data from a regional registry (GIAVA-COVID) were used.

Main outcomes

The main outcome measures were the proportion of hospitalisations, virus clearance and the case fatality rate.

Results

A total of 1175 cases (50.7% female; median age: 55 years) were identified among 55 131 tests performed. The proportion of hospitalisation with COVID-19 diagnosis was 45.4% in men versus 37.9% in women (p<0.01), while the average length of stay in hospitals was 31.3±14.6 days in women versus 26.8±14.4 days in men (p<0.01). The proportion of cases who achieved virus clearance was higher in women (84.2%; days to clearance: 28.0±12.1) than in men (79.3%; days to clearance: 29.4±12.9; p<0.05). Men were associated with a significantly higher risk of dying from COVID-19 than women (case fatality rate 16.1% vs 10.4%; p<0.01). The mean time, from diagnosis to death, was 14.5±14.4 days in women compared with 10.6±10.7 days in men (p<0.01). The male sex, age ≥55 years and presence of at least one underlying comorbidity significantly raised the risk of hospitalisation, persistent infection and death (p<0.05).

Conclusions

This study suggests that more attention should be paid to sex as a variable for the interpretation of COVID-19 data. Sex-disaggregated data will help clinicians to make appropriate patient-tailored medical decisions.

SUBMITTER: Fortunato F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8507404 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Sex and gender differences in COVID-19: an Italian local register-based study.

Fortunato Francesca F Martinelli Domenico D Lo Caputo Sergio S Santantonio Teresa T Dattoli Vitangelo V Lopalco Pier Luigi PL Prato Rosa R

BMJ open 20211007 10

<h4>Objectives</h4>The present study aimed to explore differences in COVID-19 outcomes between male and female cases in the Apulian District of Foggia, Italy.<h4>Design and setting</h4>We performed a retrospective epidemiological study among all COVID-19 confirmed cases that occurred in the Apulian District of Foggia from 29 February to 30 June 2020. The surveillance data from a regional registry (GIAVA-COVID) were used.<h4>Main outcomes</h4>The main outcome measures were the proportion of hospi ...[more]

PMID: 34620662

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Project description:Rationale: Gender-related differences in asthma prevalence, pathophysiology and clinical features induced by sex steroids have been investigated, however, how gender influences response to asthma treatments in routine clinical practice have not yet been elucidated fully. This aspect is crucial for montelukast considering the jeopardization of asthmatic patients that benefit from this treatment and the existence of evidence of gender differences in leukotriene levels. Therefore, to fulfill this medical need, we investigated the role of gender on a set of montelukast' effectiveness surrogates in adults and pediatric patients with asthma. Methods: The study settings were Napoli 2 Local Health Unit (southern Italy) and the entire Danish territory. The study population was composed of adult and pediatric patients with asthma. Cumulative incidence curves, unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression were used as statistical models to compare aforementioned outcomes between genders. Results: Adult Italian male users of montelukast had a statistically lower persistence in montelukast treatment compared to female users. In the adjusted analyses, they had a higher hazard of montelukast' withdrawal (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.07; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.01-1.14), add-on/switch to a long-term treatment for asthma following montelukast withdrawal (HR 1.72; 95%CI 1.39-2.12), and rescue therapy with short-acting β2 agonist (HR 1.24; 95%CI 1.04-1.47). In the adult Danish cohort, we also found that male users had higher a hazard of rescue therapy with oral corticosteroids (HR 1.10; 95%CI 1.04-1.16). In the pediatric cohorts, no statistically significant differences were observed between genders for aforementioned outcomes. Conclusions: In adults, male gender was associated with increased hazards of montelukast discontinuation, add-on/switch to a long-term treatment for asthma following montelukast withdrawal, and rescue therapy with oral corticosteroids or short-acting β2 agonist when compared to the female gender. As expected, these associations were reversed or absent in pediatric patients.

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Dataset Information

Sex and gender differences in COVID-19: an Italian local register-based study.

Objectives

Design and setting

Main outcomes

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Sex and gender differences in COVID-19: an Italian local register-based study.

Similar Datasets

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