Gender differences in correlation of biochemical parameters with the severity of covid pneumonia and the need for oxygen/mechanical support.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused global medical, economic and social problems. High infection rates, heterogeneous presentation, lack of previous data, and lack of standardized treatment led to a need for further analysis to prepare for potential new pandemics. We analyzed any possible correlation between gender, laboratory findings, disease severity and the need for oxygen or mechanical ventilation support.

Methods: 99 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 virus infection enrolled. Baseline characteristics that included age, sex, smoking history, BMI, oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation support needs were recorded. Type and severity of radiological findings determined by chest CT scan.

Results: The majority of our patients were over 61 years old (58.6%), male (57.6%), and had severe radiological findings (bilateral pneumonia 29.3%, ARDS 35.4%), with only 20.2% had not required any oxygen supplementation. Regarding gender and laboratory findings, men have shown statistically significant higher values of CRP, lymphocytes, LDH and ferritin (96.4 vs 87.1, p=0.014; 1.17 vs 0.84, p=0.048; 674.8 vs 609.1, p=0.031; 1263 vs 578.4, p=0.001, respectfully). Severe radiological findings showed a positive correlation with the need for HFNC and/or (N)IMV (p=0.021 and p=0.032. respectfully), as well as with higher values of WBC, LDH and ferritin (p=0.042, p=0.035 and p=0.017, respectively).

Conclusions: There is a difference between the presentation of the disease and analyzed laboratory markers between sexes. The difference is most likely multifactorial and should require further research in order to discover other risk and prognostic factors.