Men more susceptible to virus than women: TN data

Until Thursday, while 2.43 lakh men (60.4%) in Tamil Nadu were infected, 1.59 lakh women (39.6%) in the State tested positive for coronavirus. Health experts and doctors said that this huge difference between infection and mortality rate between the genders is due to higher prevalence of co-morbidities in men than women, among other factors.

 Incidentally, in the age group of 0-12, 52 per cent males and 48 per cent females tested positive; 60.6 per cent males and 39.4 per cent females in the age group 13-60 years were infected. Among senior citizens too, 62 per cent males and 38 per cent females were said to have contracted the virus. “The behaviour of certain viruses is different depending on gender and coronavirus appears to pose a higher risk in men than women. Also, the number of cases in TN have been reported to be higher in men than women because men were more exposed to the virus,” said Dr T S Selvavinayagam, director, Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

 However, global data shows equal rates of infection among men and women. In the US, 48 per cent of cases are male, while 52 per cent are females. In Italy, 46 per cent are males and the rest 53 per cent are females. In China, 51 per cent are males and 49 per cent female. In Germany, 49 per cent of cases are male and 51 per cent female. But in India, over 70% of patients with COVID-19 are male.

 TN healthcare experts said that men are directly exposed to the virus, while women have secondary exposure and have lower risk. “Men are more likely to go outdoors for work and other purposes than women, thus, the risk of exposure is more,” said Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, deputy director at National Institute of Epidemiology. “In western countries, the men-women ratio of cases is almost equal as both genders have equal amount of exposure risk as gender differences in employment sector is very minimal. Moreover, usually, women are more conscious of safety measures and follow more precautions when compared to men,” says Dr G Kadhiravan, head, Accident & Emergency Department, Tagore Medical College and Hospital.

 Dr T Jacob John, retired professor of virology, Christian Medical College, and community-health expert, stated that such disparity cannot be due to biological reasons, rather, due to sociological ones. “This is systemic. Firstly, it is possible that due to focus on contact tracing, more men have been tested due to occupational patterns in the nation and the State. Secondly, it is possible that there is a bias when it comes to reportage, treatment and diagnosis. From my experience, most issues of women are chalked up to psychosomatic ones. Additionally, due to lack of mobility and autonomy in current family structures, women might not be able to get themselves tested,” he said.