Status: March 9th, 2021 5:00 p.m.
In the new episode of the NDR Info Podcast Coronavirus Update, Sandra Ciesek talks about why men are at greater risk of developing a serious disease, about the supposed risk factor blood group and about the eyes as a possible gateway for the virus.
Early on in the corona pandemic, scientists discovered that although men and women contract Covid-19 at about the same rate, the course is often more severe in men and they apparently also have a higher risk of death. “In Germany, this is particularly noticeable in the middle ages between 40 and 69: that around twice as many men in this age group have died of the disease,” says virologist Ciesek. She reports on a meta-analysis published in the journal “Nature Communications”, in which data from more than 20 countries were compared: “It has been shown again that men and women are infected equally, but the mortality rate is one or two Third is higher in men. ” The probability of being hospitalized is also 20 percent higher for men.
AUDIO: The new podcast episode: Points of attack for the virus (84 min)
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Men have more risk factors than women
One reason for this could be that, statistically speaking, men smoke and drink alcohol significantly more often, both of which are risk factors. In addition, the immune system of women is genetically and hormonally better on average, explains the doctor. “Overall, women develop stronger immune responses to viral infections than men,” says Ciesek, summarizing the differences. Even after vaccinations, immune responses could differ depending on gender.
Local reactions to vaccinations can be stronger in women
In this context, the virologist mentions a publication that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine last week has appeared. This is about local reactions at the puncture site after vaccination with an mRNA corona vaccine that only occurred after a week or later – which is unusual. Reactions are common a day or two after vaccination. The reactions described in the ten patients concerned were sometimes quite severe swelling or redness, but most of them could be managed well with cooling and antihistamines. “Our colleagues published these cases to warn that when you see this, you remember that it can happen and that you don’t have to mistakenly give an antibiotic. And that a second vaccination is possible and you know early on how to handle it. ” These hypersensitivities were mainly seen in women.
Higher risk of infection for people with blood group A?
The possible influence of the blood group on an infection with the coronavirus has also been speculated for a long time. Studies show that many of those infected in Germany have blood group A. However, according to statistics, this is also the most common blood group in Germany. A new study from the US, on which the Medicine Journal “Blood Advances” reports, tries to find out whether people with blood group A have a higher risk of infection. To do this, the scientists examined how the virus enters the human cell. “They saw that there was an increased binding of the receptor binding domain of the virus to the blood group A antigens. They interpreted it to mean that the virus can probably get into cells more easily with blood group A,” says virologist Ciesek Investigation. These are the first data that could explain the clinical observation with blood group A. But many experiments were still missing. You don’t think that people with blood group A should worry more: “There are significantly stronger risk factors.”
Further information
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