In-hospital mortality rates after anaphylactic reactions were not significantly different between male and female patients, based on new data from more than 7000 individuals presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2026 International Conference.

“Gender disparities are a rising trend bringing closer attention to individualized medicine,” Nkoyo Effiom, MD, an internal medicine resident at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford in Bedford, Texas, and colleagues wrote.

Gender differences have been linked to different disease courses, but data on individuals with allergic diseases are limited, the researchers noted. “Anaphylactic shock is an acute, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction leading to circulatory collapse,” they said. The researchers reviewed data from the National Inpatient Sample Database from 2019 to 2022 for 7970 admissions for anaphylactic shock based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision codes.

The researchers divided the patients by gender (59% female and 41% male) and compared the odds of various outcomes after anaphylactic shock, with a primary outcome of in-hospital mortality.

In the adjusted analysis, no difference in mortality appeared between genders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.93; P < .919).

The researchers also examined secondary outcomes including length of hospital stay, total charges, acute respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, mechanical ventilation, and acute kidney injury. No significant gender differences appeared for any of the secondary outcomes. The mean length of stay for females vs males was 2.8 vs 3.3 days (P < .13), and the total hospital charges were $46,533 vs $47,513 (P < .47).

However, the odds of acute kidney injury were lower among women than among men, although the difference did not reach statistical significance, the researchers noted (aOR, 0.32; CI, 0.22-0.46; P < .00).

More Information Adds Value

The current study is important because of the severity and the risk for death associated with anaphylactic reactions, said Marcus S. Shaker, MD, MSc, FAAP, FACAAI, FAAAAI, professor of pediatrics and of medicine at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine in Hanover, New Hampshire.

“A clear take-home message is that early recognition of anaphylaxis is critical,” said Shaker, who was not involved in the study.

Understanding potential gender differences in anaphylaxis provides additional information to inform clinical practice, and the new study’s are consistent with previous research, Shaker said. Mechanisms for the increased incidence of anaphylaxis in women remain unclear but may stem in part from estrogen-mediated vascular and other physiologic effects, he noted. Regardless of gender, epinephrine remains the first-line management of severe allergic reactions, Shaker added.

The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. Shaker had no financial conflicts to disclose.