Sex Differences and Effects of Pregnancy on Symptoms and Severity of COVID-19

Presented By: Sabra L. Klein, PhD
Speaker Biography: Dr. Klein is a Professor of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She is an expert on sex and gender differences in immune responses and susceptibility to infection and vaccination. She currently has over 170 peer-reviewed publications, authored several book chapters, and edited three books on the broad topics of sex differences in response to infection and treatments for infectious diseases. During the 2009 influenza pandemic, she was commissioned by the WHO to evaluate and publish a report on the impact of sex, gender, and pregnancy on the outcome of influenza virus infection. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Klein has written commentaries for several journals and been interviewed by several major news media outlets about sex differences in immunity, disease outcomes, and responses to vaccines....
Webinar: Sex Differences and Effects of Pregnancy on Symptoms and Severity of COVID-19
Webinar Abstract: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased awareness about sex-specific differences in immunity and outcomes following respiratory virus infections. Strong evidence of a male bias in acute COVID-19 disease severity will be presented based on clinical data and preclinical animals models, which illustrate sex differential immune responses against SARS-CoV-2. In addition to biological sex (i.e., differences between males and females based on sex chromosome complement, reproductive tissues, and sex steroid concentrations) , the sociocultural construct of gender (i.e., behaviors, cultural norms, and societal factors that contribute to differences between men and women), along with age, comorbidities, and social determinants of health (e.g., race or ethnicity) also contribute to the male bias in severe acute COVID-19 outcomes. While males suffer worse outcomes from COVID-19 during acute infection, female are more likely to suffer long-term symptoms of post-acute sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). Immunological changes associated with pregnancy further contribute to worse outcomes from COVID-19. Infection caused heightened systemic inflammatory responses, including IL-1b, and impaired antibody responses in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2. Preclinical animal models are providing insights into lasting effects of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on offspring. The data presented will illustrate our understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is improved with attention to sex, gender, and women’s health.
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