Sex differences in respiratory function

LoMauro, Antonella; Aliverti, Andréa

doi:10.1183/20734735.000318

Cited by 229 publications

(199 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…However, this result should be interpreted with caution, since the relationship is likely to be influenced by confounding variables (eg, sex, body height). Specifically, females show lower VE max values and female's lung function affects the response to exercise due to stature . In our study, we can confirm FVC was also related to VE max , where between 6 and 20 minutes post‐exercise, FVC reductions in the HME condition were negatively correlated with VE max .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Effects of a heat and moisture exchanger on respiratory function and symptoms post–cold air exercise

Frischhut

Kennedy

Niedermeier

et al. 2019

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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Purpose Exercise at temperatures below −15°C induces drying and cooling of lung airways which causes exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and respiratory symptoms, especially in winter sport athletes. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) worn during intense cold air exercise improves lung function and reduces respiratory symptoms in healthy winter sport athletes. Methods Seven active males and six active females (maximum oxygen uptake 61.9 ± 6.9 and 52.2 ± 5.3 mL/kg/min), all active or former winter sport athletes, completed running trials with and without HME in random order on 2 days in an environmental chamber (−20°C temperature, humidity 46.2%). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow at 25%‐75% (FEF25%‐75%), and FEF at 50% (FEF50%) were measured pre‐ and post‐exercise (3, 6, 10, 15, and 20 minutes). Respiratory symptoms were reported after exercise. Results Significant interaction effects were observed for FEV1 and FEF25%‐75%. Mean decrease of FVC (−5.9%, P ≤ .001) and FEV1 (−4.2%, P = .003) was largest 3 minutes post‐exercise without HME. There was an increase of FEV1, FEF25%‐75%, and FEF50% post‐exercise compared to pre‐exercise with HME. More respiratory symptoms overall were reported without HME (P = .046). Conclusion Intense cold air exercise likely causes transient acute bronchoconstriction and symptoms of cough in individuals participating in winter sports. However, this study finds that the application of an HME during intense cold air exercise improves lung function and reduces prevalence of EIB‐associated symptoms compared to unprotected intense cold air exercise.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Effects of a heat and moisture exchanger on respiratory function and symptoms post–cold air exercise

Frischhut

Kennedy

Niedermeier

et al. 2019

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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“…Sexual dimorphism is an important factor underlying morphological variation in the entire human body, including the respiratory system (Frayer & Wolpoff, ; Franciscus, ; Krishtalka et al, ; Lam et al, ; Lockwood, ; Lockwood et al, ; LoMauro and Aliberti, ; McHenry, ; Molgan‐Seon et al, ; Plavcan, , , , ; Ponce de León et al, ; Rehg & Leigh, ; Reno et al, ; Reno et al, ; Richmond & Jungers, ; Wood, ; Bastir et al, ; Hall, ; Holton et al, ; Rosas & Bastir, , ; Rosas et al, ; Bastir et al, ; Carlson et al, ; Fischer & Mitteroecker, , ; İşcan & Shihai, ; Kranioti et al, ; García‐Martínez et al, ; Mitteroecker & Fischer, ; Rascón Pérez, ; Rosas et al, , ; Walker, ; Walker, ; Weinstein, ). García‐Martínez et al () quantified static thoracic morphology and found that males have more horizontally oriented ribs than females, as well as relatively shorter and wider ribcages, particularly in the caudal part.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three‐dimensional analysis of sexual dimorphism in ribcage kinematics of modern humans

García‐Martínez

Bastir

Torres-Tamayo

et al. 2019

American J Phys Anthropol

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Objectives: Sexual dimorphism is an important biological factor underlying morphological variation in the human skeleton. Previous research found sex-related differences in the static ribcage, with males having more horizontally oriented ribs and a wider lower ribcage than females. Furthermore, a recent study found sex-related differences in the kinematics of the human lungs, with cranio-caudal movements of the caudal part of the lungs accounting for most of the differences between sexes. However, these movements cannot be quantified in the skeletal ribcage, so we do not know if the differences observed in the lungs are also reflected in sex differences in the motion of the skeletal thorax. Materials and methods:To address this issue, we quantified the morphological variation of 42 contemporary human ribcages (sex-balanced) in both maximal inspiration and expiration using 526 landmarks and semilandmarks. Thoracic centroid size differences between sexes were assessed using a t test, and shape differences were assessed using Procrustes shape coordinates, through mean comparisons and dummy regressions of shape on kinematic status. A principal components analysis was used to explore the full range of morphological variation.Results: Our results show significant size differences between males and females both in inspiration and expiration (p < .01) as well as significant shape differences, with males deforming more than females during inspiration, especially in the mediolateral dimension of the lower ribcage. Finally, dummy regressions of shape on kinematic status showed a small but statistically significant difference in vectors of breathing kinematics between males and females (14.78 ; p < .01).Discussion: We support that sex-related differences in skeletal ribcage kinematics are discernible, even when soft tissues are not analyzed. We hypothesize that this differential breathing pattern is primarily a result of more pronounced diaphragmatic breathing in males, which might relate to differences in body composition, metabolism, and ultimately greater oxygen demand in males compared to females. Future research should further explore the links between ribcage morphological variation and basal metabolic rate.

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“…This period is also significant for the development of lung function as it represents a phase of dramatic growth from childhood to adolescence to reach a maximal level of lung function in early adulthood [3][4][5]. Lung function growth is genderdependent and such dependence is attributable to multiple biological determinants, including dimensional/ anatomical (e.g., airway size, somatic growth, lung growth, adolescence growth spurts), immunological, and hormonal determinants such as different phases of the menstrual cycle and common hormonal and metabolic conditions [6][7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes of DNA methylation are associated with changes in lung function during adolescence

et al. 2020

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Background: Adolescence is a significant period for the gender-dependent development of lung function. Prior studies have shown that DNA methylation (DNA-M) is associated with lung function and DNA-M at some cytosinephosphate-guanine dinucleotide sites (CpGs) changes over time. This study examined whether changes of DNA-M at lung-function-related CpGs are associated with changes in lung function during adolescence for each gender, and if so, the biological significance of the detected CpGs. Methods: Genome-scale DNA-M was measured in peripheral blood samples at ages 10 (n = 330) and 18 years (n = 476) from the Isle of Wight (IOW) birth cohort in United Kingdom, using Illumina Infinium arrays (450 K and EPIC). Spirometry was conducted at both ages. A training and testing method was used to screen 402,714 CpGs for their potential associations with lung function. Linear regressions were applied to assess the association of changes in lung function with changes of DNA-M at those CpGs potentially related to lung function. Adolescence-related and personal and family-related confounders were included in the model. The analyses were stratified by gender. Multiple testing was adjusted by controlling false discovery rate of 0.05. Findings were further examined in two independent birth cohorts, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Children and Parents (ALSPAC) and the Children, Allergy, Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiology (BAMSE) cohort. Pathway analyses were performed on genes to which the identified CpGs were mapped. Results: For females, 42 CpGs showed statistically significant associations with change in FEV 1 /FVC, but none for change in FEV 1 or FVC. No CpGs were identified for males. In replication analyses, 16 and 21 of the 42 CpGs showed the same direction of associations among the females in the ALSPAC and BAMSE cohorts, respectively, with 11 CpGs overlapping across all the three cohorts. Through pathway analyses, significant biological processes were identified that have previously been related to lung function development. Conclusions: The detected 11 CpGs in all three cohorts have the potential to serve as the candidate epigenetic markers for changes in lung function during adolescence in females.

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Sex differences in respiratory function

Cited by 229 publications

References 70 publications

Effects of a heat and moisture exchanger on respiratory function and symptoms post–cold air exercise

Effects of a heat and moisture exchanger on respiratory function and symptoms post–cold air exercise

Three‐dimensional analysis of sexual dimorphism in ribcage kinematics of modern humans

Changes of DNA methylation are associated with changes in lung function during adolescence

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