Understanding COVID-19: Digit ratio (2D:4D) and sex differences in national case fatality rates

• Published in: Early human development Vol. 146; p. 105074
• Main Authors: Manning, John T., Fink, Bernhard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.07.2020
• Subjects: ACE2; Adult; Advanced Basic Science; Case fatality rate; Coronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - ethnology; Coronavirus Infections - mortality; COVID-19; Digit ratio; Ethnicity - statistics & numerical data; Female; Fingers - anatomy & histology; Fingers - growth & development; Humans; Male; Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - ethnology; Pneumonia, Viral - mortality; Sex Factors; Testosterone; COVID-19; Testosterone; ACE2; Case fatality rate; Coronavirus; Digit ratio

The reported national case fatality rates (CFRs) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) shows a sex bias with males > females. The relative lengths of the index (2D) and ring (4D) fingers (digit ratio; 2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic (males < females) proxy of fetal sex steroids (low 2D:4D ind...