Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Women: A Biologically Focused Review with a Systematic Search Strategy

Overview

Journal Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Pulmonary Medicine

Date 2020 Apr 14

PMID 32280209

Citations 12

Authors

MeiLan K Han

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Evidence suggests that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms and progression may differ between men and women. However, limited information is currently available on the pathophysiological and biological factors that may underlie these sex-related differences. The objective of this review is to systematically evaluate reports of potential sex-related differences, including genetic, pathophysiological, structural, and other biological factors, that may influence COPD development, manifestation, and progression in women.

Patients And Methods: A PubMed literature search was conducted from inception until January 2020. Original reports of genetic, hormonal, and physiological differences, and biological influences that could contribute to COPD development, manifestation, and progression in women were included.

Results: Overall, 491 articles were screened; 29 articles met the inclusion criteria. Results from this analysis demonstrated between-sex differences in inflammatory, immune, genetic, structural, and physiological factors in patients with COPD.

Conclusion: Various biological differences are observed between men and women with COPD including differences in inflammatory and metabolic pathways related to obesity and fat distribution, immune cell function and autophagy, extent and distribution of emphysema and airway wall remodeling. An enhanced understanding of these differences has the potential to broaden our understanding of how COPD develops and progresses, thereby providing an opportunity to ultimately improve diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of COPD in both men and women.

Citing Articles

Management Reality of Female Patients with COPD: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional CAP Study in Japan.

Yamamoto T, Oishi K, Ohata S, Murata Y, Yamaji Y, Asami-Noyama M Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2024; 19:1123-1130.

PMID: 38803411 PMC: 11129750. DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S455397.

Associations of reproductive risk score and joint exposure to ambient air pollutants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cohort study in UK Biobank.

Liu X, Huang N, Jin M, Zhuang Z, Wang W, Zhao Y Environ Health Prev Med. 2023; 28:76.

PMID: 38057083 PMC: 10711373. DOI: 10.1265/ehpm.23-00155.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality trends in Spain, 1980-2020.

Cayuela L, Lopez-Campos J, Gaeta A, Reinoso-Arija R, Cayuela A Epidemiol Health. 2023; 45:e2023036.

PMID: 36996868 PMC: 10586929. DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2023036.

COPD in Women: Future Challenges.

Scicluna V, Han M Arch Bronconeumol. 2022; 59(1):3-4.

PMID: 35902294 PMC: 10085546. DOI: 10.1016/j.arbres.2022.06.008.

Gender dimorphism in IgA subclasses in T2-high asthma.

Varricchi G, Poto R, Covelli B, Di Spigna G, Galdiero M, Marone G Clin Exp Med. 2022; 23(3):929-941.

PMID: 35467314 PMC: 10285012. DOI: 10.1007/s10238-022-00828-x.

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