Explainer | Are men more vulnerable to coronavirus infection?

In Italy, an analysis of more than 127,700 Covid-19 cases found that 52.9 per cent of all infected people were men and 47.1 per cent women

Poor hygiene habits and smoking are some of the possible factors that explain why men are more frequently hit by the illness

Reading Time:2 minutes

People wearing masks buy food at a market in Metro Manila, Philippines. Photo: AP

Published: 1:45am, 9 Apr 2020Updated: 4:56am, 9 Apr 2020

Death and infection tolls from the coronavirus pandemic spreading around the world point to men being more likely than women to contract Covid-19 and to suffer severe or critical complications if they do.

Here are some insights from research and experts:

Are men more susceptible to infection with the new coronavirus?

It looks that way, yes.

In Italy, an analysis of more than 127,700 Covid-19 cases found that 52.9 per cent of all infected people were men and 47.1 per cent women. Among Italy’s first 14,860 deaths, almost 68 per cent were men.

A Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention report found that in a data set of 44,672 confirmed cases, there was a 1.1 per cent higher Covid-19 fatality rate in men compared with women.

“Evidence is mounting that men are experiencing more severe symptoms and have a higher mortality rate when compared to women,” said James Gill, a specialist at Warwick Medical School.