pasquale.pagliaro@unito.it
OR
Carlo Gabriele Tocchetti, MD, PhD, FISC, FHFA
Vice Chair, ESC WG Myocardial Function
Ex Officio-Board Member of the ESC Council on Cardio-Oncology
Member of the HFA Study Group on Cardio-Oncology
2012-2016 Member of the HFA Translational Research Committee
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Cardio-Oncology Unit
Department of Translational Medical Sciences
Interdepartmental Center of Clinical and Translational Research (CIRCET)
Federico II University
Via Pansini 5
80131 Napoli, ITALY
Phone +39-081-746-2242
Fax +39-081-746-2246
carlogabriele.tocchetti@unina.it
ABSTRACT
Many Western countries have been affected by the outbreak of COVID-19.
Italy has been particularly hit at the beginning of the pandemic,
immediately after China. In Italy and elsewhere women seem to be less
affected then men by severe/fatal COVID-19 infection, regardless of
their age. Despite the evidence that women and men are different fort
this infection, very few studies consider different therapeutic
approaches for the two sexes. Undoubtedly, understanding the mechanisms
at the bases of these differences may help to find appropriate and sex
specific therapies. Here we
consider that other mechanisms but estrogen protection are involved.
Several X-linked genes (such as ACE2) and Y-linked genes (SRY, SOX9) may
explain sex differences. Cardiovascular comorbidities are among the
major enhancers of virus lethality. In addition, the number of
sex-independent non-genetic factors that can change susceptibility and
mortality is enormous, and many other factors are likely to be
considered, including gender and cultural habits in different countries.
Key words: Cardiovascular comorbidities, ACE, ACE2, Androgens,
Estrogens