Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in women

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains the focus of medical science and practice. The article presents a review of contemporary literature on the problem of COPD in women. The data are presented on the prevalence of the disease, on the characteristics of sensitivity to the effects of risk factors, age-related aspects of development, progression, outcomes and clinical manifestations of COPD, as well as on the difference in response to the pharmacotherapy in women and men. Thus, a number of studies have demonstrated a high susceptibility of women to exposure to tobacco smoke, a predisposition to the development of the bronchitis phenotype of COPD, severe course with frequent exacerbations and a low risk of death after exacerbations. Based on the results of the review, it can be concluded that gender differences can be explained by the anatomical features of the respiratory system development and the cyclic hormonal activity of the female body, which is manifested by a greater degree of airway hyperresponsiveness, and, as a consequence, a high frequency of severe COPD.