Gender-Based Disparities in COVID-19 Patient Outcomes: A Propensity-matched Analysis

COVID-19 epidemiological data show higher mortality among males as compared to females. However, it remains unclear if this disparity is due to gender differences in high-risk characteristics. Our study, including a large cohort of male and female patients, showed that males have a higher risk for mortality, hospitalization and mechanical ventilation even when compared to a matched cohort of females with similar age, high-risk behavior, and comorbidities. This gender-based risk of poor outcomes among COVID-19 patients is especially more pronounced in advanced age. High-risk characteristics only partially explain the gender disparity, and further research is needed to understand the causes of this disparity.