Men in Denmark are 25 percent more likely to catch the coronavirus than women, according to new figures from the Statens Serum Institut.
There are twice as many men currently on respirators, compared to women, and men are twice as likely to die after contracting COVID-19.
Men are more vulnerable
Svend Aage Madsen, the head of the Forum for Men’s Health at Rigshospitalet, claims these statistics demand closer investigation.
“It’s been more than half a year since the start of this pandemic, and we are still no closer to understanding the problem,” he said.
“The coronavirus is still in Denmark and infection rates are rising. It’s time to focus on more than just the infection rates in specific local areas, and to start investigating the impact of gender on illness and infection.”
Less likely to visit the doctor
A report by the Forum for Men’s Health reveals that men went to see their doctor 35 percent less often than women did, on average. Reluctance to seek help, or report symptoms, may well be a contributing factor to men’s higher mortality rate in relation to the coronavirus.
According to Madsen, more research needs to be carried out into how men are dealing with the virus, as well as social distancing guidance, to determine what’s causing the gender divide, and what steps need to be taken next.
