The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in a major global pandemic, causing extreme morbidity and mortality. Few studies appear to suggest a significant impact of gender in morbidity and mortality, where men are reported at a higher risk than women. The infectivity, transmissibility, and varying degree of disease manifestation (mild, modest, and severe) in population studies reinforce the importance of a number of genetic and epigenetic factors, in the context of immune response and gender. The present review dwells on several contributing factors such as a stronger innate immune response, estrogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene, and microbiota, which impart greater resistance to the SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease progression in women. In addition, the underlying importance of associated microbiota and certain environmental factors in gender-based disparity pertaining to the mortality and morbidity due to COVID-19 in women has also been addressed.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Immunity, Gender, Estrogen, Environment, microbiota, Hormones, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2, immune response, Mortality, innate immune response, Genetic, Infection, virus, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, global pandemic, Disease progression, Transmissibility, morbidity, Factors, Mild, morbidity and mortality, women, Epigenetic, acute respiratory syndrome, Factor, higher risk, disease manifestation, men, environmental factor, extreme, greater, caused, reported, addition, addressed, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 disparity, determinant, Factor,