Are there reasons why adult asthma is more common in females?
Many epidemiological studies suggest that women are at increased risk of developing adult-onset asthma and also suffer from more severe disease than men. These gender differences appear to be the product of biological sex differences as well as sociocultural and environmental differences. The biological sex differences include genetic, pulmonary, and immunological factors. There is compelling evidence that sex hormones are major determinants of at least these biological sex differences. This paper explores the current literature regarding effects of sex hormones on immune function, resident lung cells, and regulation of local processes in the lung to shed light on underlying mechanisms of gender differences in asthma. More research is needed to understand these mechanisms in order to improve treatment of women with asthma.
Melgert
Barbro N
BN
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, NW 628 MUH, 3459 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. BNMelgert@mac.com
Ray
Anuradha
A
Hylkema
Machteld N
MN
Timens
Wim
W
Postma
Dirkje S
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D016387:Women's Health
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones