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. 2021 Sep 10;29(3):402-407.
doi: 10.53854/liim-2903-11. eCollection 2021.

Sex differences in COVID-19 fatality rate and risk of death: An analysis in 73 countries, 2020-2021

Max Carlos Ramírez-Soto  1   2 , Gutia Ortega-Cáceres  3 , Hugo Arroyo-Hernández  4
Affiliations

Sex differences in COVID-19 fatality rate and risk of death: An analysis in 73 countries, 2020-2021

Max Carlos Ramírez-Soto et al. Infez Med. .

Abstract

There is a worrying lack of epidemiological data on the sex differential in COVID-19 fatality rates. We examined the Global Health 50/50 tracks of sex-disaggregated infection and mortality COVID-19 data from 73 countries through May 20, 2021. We compared the infection fatality rate (IFR) in men vs. women and risk of death from COVID-19 by country. Of all cases in 73 countries, 42,933,757 were in women and 40,187,894 in men; 1,274,663 men and 971,899 women died. The IFR was higher in males (3.17%) than in women (2.26%). The IFR in males vs. females varied from country to country, and it was higher in men in Brazil, Yemen, Mexico, Ecuador, Scotland, Peru, Guatemala, North Macedonia and Afghanistan. Overall, men had a higher odd of death from COVID-19 (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.13-1.32; =0.00001) and in 49 countries, compared to women. Men in Albania and Guatemala had twice the risk of death from COVID-19. Our findings show higher fatality rates among men than among women. These rates vary widely by country, and men have a higher odd of death from COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; fatality rate; sex.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Male sex is associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality from COVID-19.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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