Thrombembolic Events in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: What is the Role of the Sex?

Abstract

Over a year ago, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic; from then on, all hopeswere on the development of vaccines. So far, 4 vaccines have been approved in Europe. On March 11, 2021, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) reported 30 cases of thromboembolic events (TE) that were observed within 2 weeks after vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine Vaxzevria, mostly being cerebral venous sinus thromboses in women younger than 60 years. Ca. 5 million people had received Vaxzevria in the EEA by then. Several European countries stopped their vaccinations with Vaxzevria temporarily. COVID-19 infections increase the risk of developing TE. It has not yet been reported whether women develop more TE under Covid-19 than men. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency, sex distribution and risk factors of TE among SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.