Gender difference in smoking effects on adult pulmonary function

Abstract

Data on 1,618 male and 1,669 female adults aged 40-69 yrs, from China in the Beijing Respiratory Health Study, were analysed to investigate the gender differences in effects of smoking on pulmonary function. Smoking was characterized by total smoking-years, smoking status (former, transitional and constant), smoking type (cigarette, cigar and others). The effects of smoking on height-standardized forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were assessed by multiple regressions adjusting for age, education level, use of an indoor coal stove for heating, passive smoking, occupational dust and gas/fume exposure, and residence. Prediction equations were derived from nonsmoking asymptomatic subjects. As compared to women, men had a much higher smoking prevalence (78 vs 35%) but a lower quitting rate (14 vs 23%). Female lifetime nonsmokers had greater mean percentage predicted lung function values than male lifetime nonsmokers, whilst female cigarette smokers had lower values than their male counterparts. In both sexes, the highest mean percentage predicted lung function values were found in lifetime nonsmokers, whilst the lowest values were found among former smokers, the second lowest among transitional smokers, and constant smokers actually had greater values than both former and transitional smokers. These findings were confirmed by sex-specific regression analyses. A global test on the interactions between smoking and sex was highly significant. This study suggests that adverse smoking effects on pulmonary function were greater in women than in men.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alarmingly high prevalence of smoking and symptoms of bronchitis in young women in Sweden: a population-based questionnaire study

“…These findings are in line with several studies indicating an increased susceptibility to tobacco smoke among women. 26,27 However, in our study, the stronger effect of smoking in women on sputum production and recurrent wheeze seemed to be explained by women starting earlier and smoking more.…”

“…1 In 2012, even higher figures were reported from the Stockholm high schools where 37% of 17-year-old girls and 29% of boys smoked regularly. 2 Similarly, recent national Swedish statistics show that the general trend of decreased smoking in the population is no longer present in young women aged [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] years, where daily smoking increased from 10% in 2009 to 13% in 2011. 3 Smoking rates have traditionally been higher in men, but women are increasingly starting to smoke at an age equivalent to that of men.…”

Sex differences in lung vulnerability to tobacco smoking

“…These results include negative effect on lung growth [1], lower lung function in adulthood [2], increased bronchial responsiveness [3], higher rate of hospitalisation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [4], and higher risk of respiratory symptoms [5]. There are, however, conflicting reports on sex differences for the negative effect on lung function of tobacco smoking [2,6]. Even if there are sexrelated differences in perception, reporting and interpretation of respiratory symptoms and diseases [7], a symptom like shortness of breath is found to be associated with quality of life and to predict mortality equally well in both sexes [8].…”

Human variability and susceptibility to trichloroethylene.

“…Several epidemiological studies of cigarette smoke have shown that, at the same exposure level, women differ in their resistance to lung damage compared to men. Xu et al (94) report that adverse effects of smoking on pulmonary function are greater in women than in men, and other studies indicate sex differences in lung dysfunction, and in genetic and biochemical alterations in lung cancer (95)(96)(97).…”