Twice as many men in the UK are dying with coronavirus as women, and often at a younger age

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Twice as many men in the UK are dying with coronavirus as women, and often at a younger age
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Men in England and Wales have suffered around twice as many fatalities involving coronavirus than women, and more of men's deaths occur at a younger age, according to official statistics for March.

The UK's Office of National Statistics (ONS) released data on Thursday that follows a pattern observed worldwide: Men appear to be more vulnerable to the virus.

As early as late February, several studies of people infected with coronavirus in China confirmed variously that men were more likely to be infected, and to die from it.

Similar findings came in later studies in South Korea and Italy, and by April 12 the pattern was repeated in data from more than 20 countries.

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They made similar findings for England and Wales in March

Most recently in the UK in March, the ONS found that when adjusted for age, the mortality rate of the virus in men in England and Wales - two of the four countries that make up the UK - was roughly double that of women.

The UK has officially recorded 13,755 deaths from the virus overall, but the ONS records things slightly differently.

Here, the ONS counted deaths both "due to" and "involving" COVID-19. "Due to" refers to when the virus was identified as the underlying cause of death, while "involving" is a broader category where any mention of the virus on the death certificate is counted.

Either way, men had almost double the mortality rate compared to women. Per 100,000 members of the overall population, men had 97.5 deaths due to COVID-19, while women had 46.5.

ONS UK coronavirus statistics March Males_had_a_higher_mortality_rate_involving_COVID 19_compared_with_females

ONS

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Males had a higher mortality rate involving COVID 19 compared with females

A bigger proportion of men were killed by the virus starting at a younger age, compared to women

The ONS also looked at the percentage of deaths due to COVID-19 according to age group, and again more men were affected at a younger age.

Just under 60% of all female coronavirus deaths were in women aged 80 and above. But for men, that's just over 50%.

Women in their 90s and above formed 20% of all female coronavirus deaths, compared to just under 13% of men.

But it's worth noting that women tend to live longer lives than men overall, and these proportions may partly reflect the number of existing men and women in those age groups.

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ONS UK coronavirus statistics March Those_aged_85_to_89_years_made_up_the_largest_proportion_of_COVID 19_deaths

ONS

Those aged 85 to 89 years made up the largest proportion of COVID 19 deaths

Men in most age brackets died of COVID-19 at around double the rate of women - and sometimes more

The ONS also looked at the mortality rate of the virus in men and women broken down into five-year age blocks.

Again measuring by numbers of deaths per 100,000 members of the overall population, they found that far more men had died in most categories.

Only two age groups had women more affected. For people aged 20-24, two women and zero men per 100,000 died of coronavirus. And for people aged 45-49, 14.5 women per 100,000 died versus 11.1 men.

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But as age advances - where the vast majority of coronavirus deaths happen - men's deaths began to hover around double that of women's.

ONS UK coronavirus statistics March Across_all_age_groups__males_had_a_higher_rate_of_COVID 19_deaths_compared_with_females

ONS

Across all age groups males had a higher rate of COVID 19 deaths compared with females

Scientists have proposed numerous theories as to why this pattern is so prominent worldwide, as Insider's Aria Bendix and Holly Secon have reported.

Smoking, the prevalence of pre-existing conditions, behavioural factors, and biological disadvantages have all been proposed as possibly contributing. But more data is needed to confirm these.

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