Sex Difference in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Does it Matter? A Concise Review

KÖKTÜRK N., Kilic H., Baha A., Lee S. D., Jones P. W.

COPD-JOURNAL OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, vol.13, no.6, pp.799-806, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 13 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/15412555.2016.1199666
  • Journal Name: COPD-JOURNAL OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.799-806
  • Keywords: COPD, gender, female, clinical presentation, exacerbation, treatment, QUALITY-OF-LIFE, GENDER-RELATED DIFFERENCES, PULMONARY-DISEASE, SMOKING-CESSATION, TOBACCO-SMOKE, RISK-FACTORS, COPD, HEALTH, WOMEN, PREVALENCE
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) primarily affects men; however, its epidemiology has been changing because more women have become smokers. Recently, investigators found that although women and men were exposed to the same amount of smoke fume, women tended to have more severe disease and higher mortality rate. They also complain of more dyspnoea and may experience more severe exacerbations than men. This led to the question of whether sex has an impact on COPD course and whether women have a higher susceptibility to smoke fumes than men. That may be explained by multiple complex factors highlighting the relationship between sex, epidemiology, method of diagnostics and the clinical course of the disease.