Epidemiology question that's been bothering me: Why are 70% of the sickest #COVID19 patients men? Could understanding lower risk in women be important for prevention? And could lower risk in children be related? Not an immunologist, so just hypothesis generating 1/x

Been thinking that lower risk in women could be related to the higher childcare burden they face, both at home and in society. Mothers, grandmothers care for children more than (most) fathers and grandfathers. And women make up the majority of daycare staff and teachers 2/x

And we know that viral infections spread in schools and daycare centers and the viruses are brought home where mothers and grandmothers are exposed. So could greater exposure to seasonal coronaviruses be partially protective 3/x

From what I've read, current #SARSCoV2 antibody tests are cross-reactive with the seasonal coronaviruses. h/t @mjd1735 4/x https://twitter.com/mjd1735/status/1253873484976906241?s=20

Is it possible that higher exposure to seasonal coronaviruses seen in children and their caregivers explains the disproportionate risk among men? And could it explain lower risk in women and children? Could it even explain such high attack rates in long-term care? 5/x

I suspect that older people in nursing homes have less frequent and less prolonged visits from children who spread colds? Of course there are other risks in older people. 6/x

I assume others have thought about this but I do wonder if it is worth exploring exposure to seasonal coronaviruses as a method to prevent severe disease in #COVID19? OK. That's it - looking forward to hearing why I'm wrong... 7/7