(2) Gender Differences in Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

Several women have been reported to have chronic respiratory disease. Symptoms such as cough and dyspnea markedly reduce the quality of life, and female patients tend to have mental stress. It is important to understand gender differences in respiratory diseases from the viewpoint of anatomical and physiological differences as well as psychosocial differences. Severe asthma, including phenotypes such as aspirin-intolerant asthma and obesity-related asthma, is reported to be more common in women. New therapeutic options such as biologics and bronchial thermoplasty are available. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in women tends to be worse because of higher smoking susceptibility. Non-emphysematous type of COPD is common, and appropriate inhalation therapy is required. Among women with interstitial pneumonia, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia caused by collagen disease is common, and corticosteroid and immunosuppressant therapy should be considered. In addition, non-smoker's lung cancer and adenocarcinoma positive for EGFR gene mutation are common among women. Because molecular targeted drugs are effective, precise diagnosis is needed at the gene level. The incidence of pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis with nodular bronchiectasis has been increasing in middle-aged and elderly women, but treatment options are limited. Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis and catamenial pneumothorax are rare diseases that occur only in women. Recently, rapid advancement has been noted in the treatment of respiratory diseases. The perspective of gender difference is associated with personalized medicine and paves a new path for respiratory medicine.