Men with Covid-19 more likely to experience increased heart rate, breathing rate, high skin temperature than women, says study. Men’s physiological responses differ from women’s during infection, potentially explaining higher mortality rates among men. Researchers from University of Basel say understanding sex-specific responses could aid in early detection and treatment of Covid-19.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, used data from wearable devices to analyze physiological responses of 82 individuals during Covid-19 infection. Men showed higher heart rate and breathing rate during recovery period compared to women, highlighting the sex-specific differences in response to the virus. No impact of variables like BMI, age, hypertension, and substance use observed on these associations.
Researchers acknowledge the limitation of not being able to consider hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle in female participants. The team calls for further research to fully comprehend the biological basis of these sex differences. The study collected over 1.5 million hours of physiological data from wearable devices during the period of 2020-2021, shedding light on the unique responses of men and women to Covid-19 infection.
“The sex-specific biological responses to Covid infection may be linked to the higher mortality and hospitalization rates observed in male Covid-19 patients,” say researchers from the University of Basel, Switzerland. The findings emphasize the importance of recognizing and understanding these differences to improve the diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19. More research is needed to delve deeper into the underlying reasons for these sex-specific physiological responses.
