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Sex bias in diagnostic delay in bronchiectasis: An analysis of the Spanish Historical Registry of Bronchiectasis
Rosa Ma Girón1, Javier de Gracia Roldán2, Casilda Olveira3
11 Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Diagnostic delay is common in most respiratory diseases, particularly in bronchiectasis. However, sex bias in diagnostic delay has not been studied to date.
Objective:
Assessment of diagnostic delay in bronchiectasis by sex.
Methods:
The Spanish Historical Registry of Bronchiectasis recruited adults diagnosed with bronchiectasis from 2002 to 2011 in 36 centres in Spain. From a total of 2113 patients registered we studied 2099, of whom 1125 (53.6%) were women.
Results:
No differences were found for sex or age (61.0 ± 20.6, p = 0.88) or for localization of bronchiectasis ( p = 0.31). Bronchiectasis of unknown aetiology and secondary to asthma, childhood infections and tuberculosis was more common in women (all ps < 0.05). More men than women were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related bronchiectasis and colonized by Haemophilus influenzae ( p < 0.001 for both). Onset of symptoms was earlier in women. The diagnostic delay for women with bronchiectasis was 2.1 years more than for men ( p = 0.001).
Discussion:
We recorded a substantial delay in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis. This delay was significantly longer in women than in men (>2 years). Independent factors associated with this sex bias were age at onset of symptoms, smoking history, daily expectoration and reduced lung function.