[Sex differences in hospitalized patients for COVID-19. Argentine Registry of Cardiovascular Complications of COVID-19 (RACCOVID-19)].

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 can cause mild upper respiratory tract involvement to pulmonary disease of varying severity, as well as cardiovascular complications with increased mortality. The prevalence is similar in men and women, although there are sex differences in disease characteristics and outcome. In this study, we analyze the clinical characteristics, progression, and in-hospital outcome by sex of patients included in the RACCOVID-19 registry.

Materials and methods: We included data from 2750 patients consecutively admitted to 50 centers in 11 provinces of the country, from May 18 to October 31, 2020.

Results: A total of 1541 men (60.2%) and 1018 women (39.8%) were included (p<0.001). The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (because of current smoking) was higher in men. During hospitalization, men had a higher incidence of cardiovascular complications (17.9% vs. 12.5%; p=0.0002) and mortality (20.8% vs. 16.8%; p=0.01). Poor performance status on hospital admission was more common in men (53.9% vs. 42.6%, p<0.0001). On multivariate analysis, male sex, the presence of hypertension and diabetes, and a history of other medical conditions were independent predictors of inhospital mortality.

Discussion: In the RACCOVID-19 registry, men had worse performance status and higher incidence of cardiovascular complications with higher in-hospital mortality. Male sex, hypertension, diabetes, and history of other diseases were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.