Health experts from around the world are in the process of studying the pattern of the pathogenic attack the world is hit by.
Their observations have led to the belief that more men and obese people are being rushed to emergency rooms in larger numbers due to coronavirus symptoms.
“More men than women have serious problems, and patients who are overweight or have previous health problems are at higher risk,” said Derek Hill, Professor of Medical Imaging Science at University College London.
Early statistics from Britain’s independent Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre also confirm this phenomenon: 73 per cent are men and 73.4 per cent are classed as overweight.
According to initial findings on patients who had either recovered or died of COVID-19 in the period before April 3, 42.4 per cent people with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 were able to go home after successful treatment, compared with 56.4 per cent of patients with a BMI of less than 25.
“I’m in the emergency room, and it’s remarkable — I’d estimate that 80 per cent of the patients being brought in are men,” reported Hani Sbitany, a reconstructive surgeon at Mount Sinai Health System who has been treating COVID-19 patients in Brooklyn.
“It’s four out of five patients,” he told a national daily.
But why are so many men affected? Experts say it is too early to tell for certain. They say they are observing the pattern but so far there is no explanation for this.