While clinical characteristics exhibit that susceptibility to COVID-19 infection is equally likely between males and females, clinical outcomes show that males experience both a higher severity and fatality for COVID-19 infection than females. This review examines the evidence for these sex and gender differences and aims to illustrate possible mechanisms behind such sensitivity. Successful entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the body is dependent on the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Thus, sex-based differences in the expression of the ACE2 receptor and TMPRSS2 may explain the disparities in COVID-19 severity and fatality. Furthermore, these disparities may also be attributed to sex-based difference in immunological responses. Finally, the differences in clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infections between men and women may be due to gendered differences in behaviors, such as smoking, and prevalence to comorbidities. An understanding of the sex and gender sensitivities of COVID-19 infection is a necessary component towards the creation of effective treatment options and therapies for the virus.

虽然临床特征表明男性和女性对 COVID-19 感染的易感性相同，但临床结果表明男性感染 COVID-19 的严重程度和死亡率均高于女性。本综述检查了这些性和性别差异的证据，旨在说明这种敏感性背后的可能机制。SARS-CoV-2 能否成功进入体内取决于血管紧张素转换酶 2 (ACE2) 受体和跨膜蛋白酶丝氨酸 2 (TMPRSS2)。因此，ACE2 受体和 TMPRSS2 表达的性别差异可以解释 COVID-19 严重程度和死亡率的差异。此外，这些差异也可能归因于免疫反应中基于性别的差异。最后，男性和女性 COVID-19 感染的临床结果差异可能是由于行为的性别差异，例如吸烟和合并症的患病率。了解 COVID-19 感染的性和性别敏感性是为该病毒制定有效治疗方案和疗法的必要组成部分。