Why does COVID-19 kill more elderly men than women? Is there a role for testosterone?
There may be a gender predisposition to COVID-19, with men predisposed to being most severely affected, and older men accounting for most deaths. Review of the research literature on the potential link between testosterone and COVID-19 induced mortality in elderly men. SARS-CoV-2 binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, present in high levels in the testis. Elevated IL-6 linked to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome.
