Sex differences in the outcome of critically Ill patients with COVID-19 - An international multicenter critical care consortium study

Premraj L, Weaver NA, Ahmad SA, White N, Whitman G, Arora R, Battaglini D, Fanning J, Dalton H, Suen J, Li Bassi G, Fraser JF, Robba C, Griffee M, Cho S-M. Heart Lung DOI 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2024.09.001

Background: Sex differences in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) susceptibility, illness severity, and hospital course are widely acknowledged. The effects of sex on outcomes experienced by patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unknown.

Objectives: To determine the effects of sex on ICU mortality in patients with COVID-19

Methods: This retrospective analysis of an international multi-center prospective observational database included adults admitted to ICU for treatment of acute COVID-19 between 1st January 2020 and 30th June 2022. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. Multivariable Cox regression was used to ascertain the hazard of death (Hazard Ratio=HR) adjusted for pre-selected covariates. The secondary outcome was sex differences in complications of COVID-19 during hospital stay.