Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows men make up a disproportionately large share of U.S. COVID-19 deaths.
Men account for 54.4 percent of fatal virus cases.
The difference between men and women is even starker in New York City. Data from the city Department of Health shows men account for 57.5 percent of COVID-19 deaths.
The numbers are relevant considering men comprise only 49.3 percent of the U.S. population and only 47.7 percent of national COVID-19 cases, the center reported.
Some experts claim it’s due to men’s generally less healthy lifestyles and their hesitation to get medical care.
“It’s most likely a reflection of lifestyle factors, such as smoking and drinking,” said Dr. Jessica Justman, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. And “women are far more likely to go in for doctor’s appointments than men are.”
She added, “I have a hunch that women are more likely to present with COVID symptoms at an earlier stage than men do.”
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Basically saying, if a man with COVID doesn’t seek medical attention until his condition is very serious, he’s “less likely” to survive than had he received treatment sooner.
Justman also referenced the stark difference between vaccination rates. According to CDC data, 62.9 percent of American women are fully-vaccinated, compared to the 58.7 percent of men.
Another factor is the “biologic reasons.”
Its possible women have died at a lower rate from COVID-19 because of their hormonal differences. Men have a larger number of “receptors” that the coronavirus binds to, she said.
This trend is also seen in the United Kingdom, where men are 24 percent more likely to die compared to women.
Justman’s message to men: “When in doubt, seek the vaccine, seek the test, seek the medical care.”
