Abstract 17228: Gender Differences in Treatment and Outcomes of Patients With COVID-19 Respiratory Failure

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the globe and claimed many lives. Initial studies suggest that there are gender-based differences in severity of disease and mortality, with male patients having worse outcomes. We sought to further characterize gender differences to COVID-19 infection. Hypothesis: Male patients have a higher severity of illness from COVID-19. Methods: The Michigan Medicine COVID-19 Cohort (M2C2) is an ongoing prospective observational study in which detailed clinical, laboratory and outcomes data were collected from chart review of consecutive adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Patients who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection but without symptoms of COVID-19 were not included in this cohort. The M2C2registry consists of 553 patients with 491 included in this analysis. There were 282 male patients and 208 female patients. Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and characteristics of in-patient management were compared among male and female patients. The primary outcomes analyzed were in-hospital death of any cause including dismissal to hospice, need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), need for mechanical ventilation, and hospital length of stay. Results: Significant differences were observed among various patient characteristics and outcomes across gender. While no mortality difference was present between males and females, 43.8% of male patients were diagnosed with ARDS compared to 35.1% of female patients. The average days on mechanical ventilation were greater for male ICU patients (4.1 ± 5.91 vs. 3.4 ± 5.75) and the length of stay (days) was also longer for males (13.6 ± 11.94 vs. 12.2 ± 12.29). Admission creatinine was higher in males compared to females (2.95 ± 12.97 vs. 1.31 ± 1.33) and more male patients required RRT during their ICU admission (19.5% vs. 10.6%). Conclusions: While no difference in in hospital mortality was observed across gender, the severity of disease was greater among male patients in regards to ARDS, the need for ventilatory support, and kidney injury with requirement for RRT.