This symptom is related to severe COVID-19 cases in men

A new study could explain why some men have more severe COVID-19 cases than women.

The study, conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, shows that men with lower testosterone levels are more likely to develop severe symptoms of COVID-19. This could explain why men, less than half the population who make up COVID-19 in the US, are more likely to die from the disease than women.

The effect of sex hormones on COVID-19 has been under scrutiny since the beginning of the pandemic. Testosterone, which is available in higher percentages in men, was a perfect opening to a clearer picture of the effect of sex hormones on the disease.

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Photo by Bruno Aguirre via Unsplash

Studies conducted earlier this year showed links between low testosterone levels and severe COVID-19, but this new study, published on the JAMA Network, expanded those findings by tracking patients as they progressed. It followed 90 male and 62 female patients with COVID-19, recording their hormone levels and trying to determine the link between testosterone and severe symptoms.

While there was no link between women’s COVID-19 disease and their sex hormones, men hospitalized with severe COVID-19 had very low testosterone levels. All men with COVID-19 had their testosterone levels dropping as the disease progressed.

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It is important to understand that while COVID-19 is linked to low testosterone, it is not a causal link. It is not known whether low testosterone levels lead to severe COVID-19 or whether the opposite is true.

COVID-19 viral loads matter - here's what they meanPhoto by Cottonbro via Pexels

Men who fared worse with COVID-19 tended to have more risk factors such as obesity, older age, and diabetes, all of which are also linked to lower testosterone levels. More research is needed to draw further conclusions. Still, this knowledge is important in painting a clearer picture of the disease and potentially providing new treatment options for a wide variety of patients.

Regarding testosterone therapy, Abhinav Diwan, cardiologist and lead author of the study, said, “This therapy has been used on men with low sex hormone levels, so it may be worth investigating whether a similar approach can help male COVID-19 survivors with their rehab . “

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