Women's COPD

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is no longer a respiratory disease that predominantly affects men, to the point where the prevalence among women has equaled that of men since 2008, partly due to their increasing exposure to tobacco and to biomass fuels. Indeed, COPD has become the leading cause of death in women in the USA. A higher susceptibility of female to smoking and pollutants could explain this phenomenon. Besides, the clinical presentation appears different among women with more frequent breathlessness, anxiety or depression, lung cancer (especially adenocarcinoma), undernutrition and osteoporosis. Quality of life is also more significantly impaired in women. The theories advanced to explain these differences involve the role of estrogens, smaller bronchi, impaired gas exchange in the lungs and smoking habits. Usual medications (bronchodilators, ICS) demonstrated similar trends for exacerbation prevention and lung function improvement in men and women. There is an urgent need to recognize the increasing burden of COPD in women and therefore to facilitate global improvements in disease management (smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation…) in half of the population. Nevertheless, important limitations to the treatment of women with COPD include greater under-diagnosis than in men, fewer spirometry tests and medical consultations. In conclusion there is an urgent need to recognize the increasing burden of COPD in women and therefore to facilitate globally improvements in disease management in this specific population.

Sex-Biased Control of Inflammation and Metabolism by a Mitochondrial Nod-Like Receptor

“…Similarly, expression of NLRX1 was reduced in aneurysm-induced brain injury ( 27 ) and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ( 110 ). Interestingly, in COPD, disease prevalence does not seem to differ between men and women, however the clinical presentation is different and more severe in women ( 111 ). Whether NLRX1 contributes to sex differences observed in these pathologies remains to be determined.…”

Respiratory Function in Friedreich’s Ataxia

“…This skewed gender representation is casual but should be considered, since it might affect the results. For example, COPD manifestations differ between males and females with the latter being more at risk of developing severe disease [ 22 ]; similarly respiratory impairment in FRDA might impact differently in the two genders, however this will require further studies.…”

Hospitalization Pattern for Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases in Australia: A Retrospective Ecological Study

“…However, in the last years of the study period, females had a higher percentage of hospitalizations due to chronic lower respiratory diseases compared to males. Recent data from the literature show an increase in the incidence of COPD among females and that COPD is no longer a disease of males [ 51 ]. In addition, previous studies in the UK showed that the rates of admissions due to chronic lower respiratory diseases in the UK were higher among females compared to males [ 50 , 52 ], which was consistent with the results of this study.…”

“…Females tend to be more susceptible to smoking. In addition, females tend to have a longer life expectancy, which puts them at a higher risk of developing chronic lung diseases [ 51 ]. These factors may explain the increase in the rate of hospitalization due to chronic lower respiratory diseases among females compared to males.…”