Why are men more vulnerable to respiratory disease? A Chinese team finds clues in the nose

Researchers say different structures in nasal microorganisms might explain why women can fight off certain infections more easily

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Scientists in China studies the nasal biome of nearly 1,600 healthy young adults and said they identified “extensive sex differences in the respiratory tract community”. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 2:00pm, 27 Oct 2024Updated: 4:07pm, 27 Oct 2024

Men and women have different structures in their nasal microorganisms, according to a study that may explain why men are more susceptible to respiratory diseases.

Scientists in China found that women have a more robust nasal microbiota, which they said suggested greater potential to fight respiratory tract infections.

Men usually experience more frequent and serious respiratory tract infections than women across all age groups. This was observed during the Covid-19 pandemic, when men had a higher risk of mortality and severity, regardless of age.

While sex is a key factor in many diseases, the exact mechanism behind immunity differences mediated by sex chromosome complement, genes and sex hormones remains unclear, according to the study.

“[The analyses] identify extensive sex differences in [communities of nasal microorganisms], which may help to further our understanding of the observed sex disparities in the respiratory diseases,” said the team led by BGI Research, a division of the Shenzhen-headquartered BGI Group, the world’s largest genome research organisation.

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The team analysed the nasal microbiome – microorganisms found in the nose and sinuses – of nearly 1,600 healthy young adults – the largest cohort to date – through swab samples collected in 2018 in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. The average age of the cohort was around 30 years.