[COVID-19: a gendered disease? Possible interpretations and knowledge limitations]. / COVID-19: un'infezione gender-related? Possibili interpretazioni e limiti delle conoscenze.

Several important gender differences in susceptibility, clinical manifestation and response to treatments for a number of diseases are known since a long time, although they continue to be underestimated by a multiplicity of operators, especially men. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has provided a further evidence of the importance of gender medicine. The epidemiological analysis of COVID-19 data has highlighted the presence of multiple and important gender differences, with more unfavourable scenarios for the male gender. The mechanisms underlying these gender differences are varied (including socio-behavioral, immune and viral factors) and not yet fully clarified. A gender-based approach to clinical practice also in the context of this pandemic seems to be mandatory, as it could significantly contribute to health promotion by improving the effectiveness of diagnostic and/or therapeutic approaches and, therefore, leading to important benefits primarily for the patients but also for the sustainability of the National Health System.

[Return to sport after the COVID-19 pandemic. How to behave?] / Ripresa dell'attività sportiva in seguito a pandemia COVID-19. Come comportarsi?

Italy, and all the world, has recently faced the arduous battle against the spread of a new coronavirus: SARS-CoV-2. This unexpected pandemic dramatically upended all areas of life, leading to a profound change in priorities, both in the medical as well as the social-economic field; and sports is no exception. Not surprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic also walloped the world of sports. Every aspect of sports has been affected, leading professional and amateur leagues to stop their activities, in order to limit the spread of the virus, a painful but mandatory choice. Even the most popular sports in the world had to deal with the massive global threat of SARS-CoV-2. The Italian Sports Medical Federation (FMSI) has recently drawn up a protocol to be implemented when teams will receive from the authorities the permission to return to competitive activities. The purpose of this paper is to deepen the FMSI indications and allow wider dissemination and understanding.