Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede und Ungleichheiten der COVID-19 Pandemie: Eine Synthese systematischer Reviews unter Einbeziehung sexueller und geschlechtlicher Minderheiten

Zusammenfassung

Ziel der Studie Schon zu Beginn der Pandemie zeigte sich, dass das Geschlecht eine maßgebliche Rolle bei der Art und Weise spielt, wie Menschen von COVID-19 betroffen waren, wobei bei der Betrachtung von Geschlechtseffekten Aspekte von Personen aus sexuellen und geschlechtlichen Minderheiten (SGM) insgesamt weniger untersucht wurden. Ziel dieser Übersicht ist daher eine Synthese systematischer Reviews und Meta-Analysen zum Thema Geschlecht und COVID-19, unter Berücksichtigung von SGM.

Methodik Die narrative Synthese der Ergebnisse basiert auf einer Literaturrecherche in PubMed. Eingeschlossen wurden systematische Reviews und/oder Meta-Analysen ab 2019 mit einem erkennbaren Geschlechtervergleich oder SGM-Bezug und einem klinischen COVID-19 Outcome.

Ergebnisse Die Suche ergab 2 658 Treffer, 29 systematische Reviews wurden für die inhaltliche Synthese inkludiert. Davon konnten wir 23 systematische Reviews mit Geschlechtervergleichen und 8 mit Bezug zu SGM identifizieren. Männer zeigten im Vergleich zu Frauen eine höhere Prävalenz, einen höheren Schweregrad und eine höhere Mortalität von COVID-19. Die psychischen Folgen der COVID-19 Pandemie haben Frauen im Vergleich zu Männern stärker betroffen. Es gibt Hinweise darauf, dass Frauen ein höheres Risiko für Long-COVID-19 haben. SGM erlebten während der COVID-19-Pandemie verstärkt psychische Gesundheitsprobleme im Vergleich zur Gesamtbevölkerung.

Diskussion Es zeigt sich, dass biologische und soziale Risiken zu unterschiedlicher Infektionsanfälligkeit und Manifestation einer COVID-19 Erkrankung führten und auch Unterschiede in der Mortalität zwischen Männern und Frauen begründeten. Einblicke zu Prävalenz, Krankheitslast und Mortalität bei SGM während der COVID-19 Pandemie fehlen. Dies deutet auf eine Unterrepräsentation von SGM in der COVID-19 bezogenen Forschung. Trotz der Fülle an COVID-19-Publikationen wurden Geschlechtereffekte oft nicht explizit und ausreichend untersucht.

Schlussfolgerung Zukünftige Studien sollten Geschlechterunterschiede und Bedarfe und Anliegen von SGM in Bezug auf weitere psychische Störungen und bislang wenig untersuchte Entitäten wie Long-COVID-19 untersuchen, um Erkenntnisse für präventive Maßnahmen und adäquate Behandlungen für alle, auch für künftige Pandemien, zu liefern.

Abstract

Objective From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, gender was shown to play a significant role in how people were affected by it, while aspects related to sexual and gender minorities (SGM) have been rather understudied. The aim of this review was to synthesize systematic reviews and meta-analyses that explicitly addressed the impact of gender within the context of the pandemic, with a focus on SGM.

Methods We based the narrative synthesis of results on a literature search of PubMed. We included systematic reviews and meta-analyses as of 2019 with an identifiable gender comparison or SGM reference and a specified clinical outcome.

Results The search yielded 2 658 hits; 29 systematic reviews were included for content synthesis. Of these, we identified 23 systematic reviews with gender comparisons and 8 related to SGM. Men showed higher prevalence, severity, and mortality of COVID-19 compared with women, but the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic affected women more compared with men. Evidence suggests that women are at higher risk for Long-COVID-19. SGM experienced increased mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the general population.

Discussion It appears that biological and social risks led to differential susceptibility to infection and manifestation of COVID-19 disease and also accounted for differences in mortality between men and women. Insights on prevalence, disease burden, and mortality among SGM during the COVID-19 pandemic are lacking. This suggests an underrepresentation of SGM in COVID-19-related research. Despite the abundance of COVID-19 publications, gender effects have not often been explicitly and adequately studied.

Conclusion Future studies should examine gender differences and needs and concerns of SGM in mental disorders and further understudied entities like Long-COVID-19, to gain insights and help to provide preventive measures and adequate treatments for all, for potential future pandemics as well.

Schlüsselwörter

COVID-19 - Pandemie - Geschlecht - LGBT + - LSBT+

Key words

COVID-19 - pandemic - gender - LGBT + - LGBTQ+

Publication History

Received: 29 August 2023

Accepted: 12 December 2023

Article published online:
05 February 2024

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