[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: differences between men and women]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increased its prevalence in females. Women have been described as more symptomatic. There are few studies considering gender differences in COPD. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of gender on quality of life, symptoms, treatment, risk factors and cardiovascular disease in a population of patients with COPD. In this prospective observational cross-sectional study, the included COPD patients were consecutively admitted between September 1, 2008 to March 1, 2010. We registered age, sex, smoking history, risk factors and cardiovascular disease, treatment and severity of COPD. We measured ankle-brachial index (ABI) and performed EuroQol-5D. Two hundred forty six patients were included (195 men). There were more former smokers among men (68.7% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.001), men had a lower FEV1 (48.7% ± 15.7 vs. 58.2% ± 10.9 of theoretical, p < 0.001) and higher frequency of ischemic heart disease (16.4% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.04). Women showed a higher prevalence of COPD without exposure to smoke cigarette (64.7% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001), more symptoms of anxiety and depression (p = 0.004) and less frequently altered ABI (20% vs. 41. 6%, p = 0.01).There were differences in COPD with respect to sex with more severe pulmonary and cardiovascular disease in men and more symptoms of anxiety and depression in women.