Why men are more affected by coronavirus than women ?

According to WHO data, men die significantly more 
often than women from SARS-CoV-2. The death 
rate in China in mid-February was 2.8% for men 
and 1.7% for women. Even a common flu often 
strikes men harder than women.

The female immune system is more resistant than 
that of men. This is mainly due to the female sex 
hormone estrogen, which stimulates the immune 
system and thus fights pathogens faster and more 
aggressively. Male sex hormone testosterone, on 
the other hand, inhibits the immune system.

There are also "genetic reasons," according to 
virologist Thomas Pietschmann in an interview 
with DW. The reason is that "some immune-related 
genes, for example, the genes responsible for 
recognizing pathogens, are encoded on the X 
chromosome. Since women have two X 
chromosomes and men only have one, women have 
an advantage here."

Aside from genetic disposition, however, a crucial 
factor is also the lifestyle. Men often lead less healthy 
lives than women. In China, for example, about 52% 
of all men smoke, but not 3% of all women. A lung 
weakened by smoking is more susceptible to 
respiratory infections.