Males are often the weaker sex when it comes to infectious diseases

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-01-22 06:00

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Males are more likely to have severe COVID-19 and die than females, and this difference between sexes is also seen in some other infectious diseases. While differences in behaviour may contribute, Yale researchers describe underlying physiological and genetic factors that probably lead to the difference. Many immune-related genes are on the X chromosome, so females may have a more diverse immunity genetic profile. Age disrupts the male immune system earlier, and oestrogen is an important regulator of gene expression in immune cells, helping limit uncontrolled inflammation. The study authors say sex of patients isn’t always reported when studying responses to infectious diseases and vaccines, but it needs to be so more effective treatments can be developed.