Airway function in women: bronchial hyperresponsiveness, cough, and vocal cord dysfunction

Area of Science:

• Respiratory Medicine
• Pulmonology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Bronchial hyperreactivity and chronic cough are prevalent conditions, disproportionately affecting women.
• Potential contributing factors include anatomical, hormonal, receptor sensitivity, and psychologic differences between sexes.
• These factors may lead to an increased incidence of upper and lower airway diseases in women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the reasons behind the higher prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity, cough, and vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) in women.
• To identify potential physiological and psychological factors contributing to sex-based differences in airway diseases.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on bronchial hyperreactivity, cough, and VCD in relation to sex differences.
• Analysis of proposed etiological factors including airway size, hormonal influences, receptor density/sensitivity, and psychological elements.

Main Results:

• Women exhibit higher frequencies of bronchial hyperreactivity and cough.
• Differences in airway size, hormonal milieu, receptor characteristics, and psychologic factors are implicated.
• These factors may contribute to the observed sex disparity in airway disease expression.

Conclusions:

• The increased prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity and cough in women is likely multifactorial.
• Similar factors may underlie the higher incidence of vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) in females, though the exact mechanisms require further investigation.