Gender differences in COPD patients

The aim of our study was to investigate clinical, functional and laboratory characteristics of COPD in males and females. Methods : 62 patients with stable COPD (36 males and 26 females, mean age 66.8 ± 7.5 years, GOLD stage I-IV) were included. Demographic, clinical data were collected, pulmonary function testing (PFT) and oxidative stress parameters (reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by granulocytes in peripheral blood, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level and antioxidant blood capacity measurement) were assessed. Results : Age, smoking history, 6MWT distance, BODE index score and main PFT parameters didn9t differ significantly between two gender groups. Women experienced less severity of sputum production (0.88 vs 1.71, p Conclusions : Female patient with stable COPD have clinical and laboratory differences compared to male patients such as greater dyspnea severity, less severity of sputum production, increased ROS production combined with greater blood levels of antioxidant protection that may be a reflection of the changed women9s susceptibility to COPD irrespective of smoking intensity and duration.