Médecine pulmonaire et respiratoire

Gender Differences on Airway Obstruction in Smokers

Abstract

Emel Bulcun, Ali Karlidag, Muge D. Tunckol, Pinar Kocyigit, Ercan Kurtipek, Aydanur Ekici and Mehmet Ekici

Objectives: Published data on gender differences in the effect of smoking on pulmonary function have been controversial. The study was designed to investigate the gender differences in effects of smoking on pulmonary function.

Methods: Female smokers were chosen among individuals older than 40 yrs, living in home for the aged. Male smokers were chosen from among office workers older than 40 yrs in MCI (machine chemical industry). Total 215 female smokers and 283 male smokers included the study. The individuals were interrogated with a questionnaire concerning respiratory symptoms, smoking status and other characteristics. Chronic airway obstruction was defined by FEV1/FVC <70%.

Results: The prevalence of chronic bronchitis in male smokers was similar to those of female smokers. The prevalence of airflow obstruction was higher in male smokers than female smokers [11.0% vs 3.7%, OR=3.1 (95%CI 1.4 to 7.0), p=0.003, respectively]. The man smokers compared to women smokers had lower values of the ratio forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) (81.1 ± 8.3 vs 86.9 ± 7.9, p=0.0001, respectively) and lower the dyspnea score. FEV1/FVC was an important predictor for magnitude of dyspnea, after adjusting for confounding factors in all subjects in regression analysis.

Conclusions: Male smokers have more severe airway obstruction and lower perception of dyspnea than female smokers with similar age and smoking burden. The males are particularly prone than females to the negative effects of smoking. Individuals' perceptions of airway obstruction and response to cigarette smoke vary depending on gender.