AUTHOR=Zysman Maéva , Raherison-Semjen Chantal 

TITLE=Women's COPD

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.600107

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.600107

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is no longer a respiratory disease that predominantly affects men, thus prevalence among women has equaled that of men since 2008, partly due to increased exposure to tobacco and to biomass fuels. Indeed, COPD has become the leading cause of death in women in the USA. To explain this phenomenon, there is evidence of a higher susceptibility of female to smoking and pollutants.  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. However specific therapeutic responses required must begin concerning global care (smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation…). Nevertheless, important limitations to the treatment of female 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.