title: Sex differences in the clinical presentation and management of airflow obstruction.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to explore differences in the clinical expression, clinical diagnoses and management of airway diseases in a primary-care setting. Patients aged >or=35 yrs who had ever smoked were enrolled when they presented for any reason to one of eight rural primary-care practices. Respiratory symptom questionnaires and spirometry were administered. In total, 1,034 patients had acceptable and reproducible spirometry, of whom 550 (53%) were males and 484 (47%) were females. Males smoked more than females (41.2 versus 29.2 pack-yrs) respectively, and were more likely to have a pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity <0.70 at 22.4 versus 11.8%, respectively. However, more females than males reported breathlessness (51.0 versus 42.8%, respectively), a prior diagnosis compatible with airflow obstruction and taking respiratory medications (23.4 versus 14.9%, respectively). In conclusion, the current results suggest that females are more likely than males to report breathlessness and be prescribed respiratory medications independent of differences in the severity of airflow obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada. rdales@ohri.ca
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dales
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehdizadeh
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Aaron
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Vandemheen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clinch
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods