Sex and gender characteristics of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic represents a new wave of new infections that the world is battling. As a result, many questions remain unanswered, including sex- and gender-specific outcomes of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). According to research, the concept of "gender" affects mental, cultural and social differences, and the concept of "sex" - only physical (anatomical and physiological) differences. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of patients around the world. Numerous studies have shown important sex and gender differences in incidence and outcomes in patients with COVID-19. These differences are associated not only with age differences and with comorbidities, but with a combination of factors, including hormonal differences, immune response, inflammatory markers, and behavioral attitudes. The review article presents literature data regarding gender differences in the prevalence and profile of comorbidities between males and females infected with COVID-19. Research data are presented on biological characteristics, including hormonal, immune and inflammatory response to infection, that potentially influence the severity and outcomes of COVID-19 infections. The data of gender differences in the immune response and the risk of developing side effects to vaccination are discussed. The article presents literature data on the risk of long-term manifestations of COVID-19 depending on gender, the features of the course of a new coronavirus infection among pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women. Gender differences in behavioral and social factors that determine the risks of infection and the development of a severe course of COVID-19 are discussed.