Women and COVID-19: severity and mortality in hospitalized middle-aged and older patients.

Balcázar-Hernández, L; Martínez-Murillo, C; Ramos-Peñafiel, C; Pellón Tellez, K; Li, B; Manuel-Apolinar, L; Basurto, L

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical features, severity, and mortality of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in hospitalized middle-aged and older women, and the risk factors associated with severity and mortality in women. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The clinical features, severity, and mortality of COVID-19 in middle-aged and older women (age 45 years and older) were compared to those of younger women (age <45 years). RESULTS A higher frequency of hypertension, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) requirement, and mortality was evidenced in middle-aged and older women. Age ≥45 years (odds ratio 2.7; 95% confidence interval 1.21-6.27; p = 0.01) and IMV requirement (odds ratio 3.0; 95% confidence interval 1.34-6.76; p = 0.004) predicted mortality. CONCLUSIONS Severity and mortality are higher in middle-aged and older women with COVID-19 compared to younger women.