Gender-Specific Differences in Obstructive Lung Diseases

Abstract

Asthma is a common disease with increasing prevalence worldwide. Sex differences in asthma vary with age. The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in females appears to be increasing.There is increasing clinical evidence for sex differences in incidence, morbidity, and mortality of obstructive lung disease. The purpose of this review is to define sex differences in epidemiology, symptom profiles, and management. This provides valuable information which could aid the management of asthma and COPD. There is still a high amount of research in gender medicine to do.