Sex-specific clinical characteristics and prognosis of coronavirus disease-19 infection in Wuhan, China: A retrospective study of 168 severe patients [Uncorrected proof]

Type Journal Article Author Yifan Meng Author Ping Wu Author Wanrong Lu Author Kui Liu Author Ke Ma Author Liang Huang Author Jiaojiao Cai Author Hong Zhang Author Yu Qin Author Haiying Sun Author Wencheng Ding Author Lingli Gui Author Peng Wu URL https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1008520 Volume 16 Issue 4 Pages e1008520 Publication PLOS Pathogens ISSN 1553-7374 Date 28/04/2020 Extra Publisher: Public Library of Science Journal Abbr PLOS Pathogens DOI 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008520 Accessed 2020-05-05 20:36:45 Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract To confirm the relationship between sex and the progression of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), and its potential mechanism, among severe patients. For this retrospective study, we included 168 consecutive severe patients with pathogen-confirmed COVID-19 who were hospitalized between January 16th and February 4th, 2020, at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China. Clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and outcomes were compared and analyzed between males and females. In the present study, we analyzed 168 severe patients with COVID-19, including 86 males and 82 females, and 48 patients (28.6%) were diagnosed as critically ill. Of 86 male patients, 12.8% (11/86) died and 75.6% (65/86) were discharged; of 82 female patients, 7.3% (6/82) died and 86.6% (71/82) were discharged. Eleven laboratory parameters showed significant differences between male and female patients, and six of them were higher during the whole clinical course in patients who died than in patients who were discharged. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, males with comorbidities presented a higher risk of being critically ill than males without comorbidities (OR = 3.824, 95% CI = 1.279–11.435). However, this association attenuated to null in female patients (OR = 2.992, 95% CI = 0.937–9.558). A similar sex-specific trend was observed in the relation between age and critically ill conditions. We highlighted sex-specific differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis. Male patients appeared to be more susceptible to age and comorbidities. Sex is an important biological variable that should be considered in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Short Title Sex-specific clinical characteristics and prognosis of coronavirus disease-19 infection in Wuhan, China