title: [Gender and health status response to long-term oxygen therapy in COPD patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association of gender with health status (HS) response to long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in very severe COPD is unclear. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare dyspnea perception and HS between male and female with very severe COPD at baseline and (2) to provide a prospective assessment of HS response to LTOT, according to gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypoxemic COPD (n = 97, age: 65.5 ± 9.6 years, 53% males) were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study over 12 months or until death. St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and baseline dyspnea index (BDI) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, HS impairment and dyspnea sensation were similar between genders. After 12 months of LTOT, women presented improvement in symptom (64.1 ± 20.6 versus 40.6 ± 22.9; P < 0.0001) and total SGRQ scores. Men also showed improvement in symptoms after 12 months (62.7 ± 23.3 versus 49.6 ± 22.8; P < 0.0005); however, they presented deterioration of activity, impact and total scores during the study period, with markedly decline of activity domain (68.5 ± 20.0 versus 75.9 ± 16.9; P = 0.008). BDI did not show significant difference by gender over the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that the HS course in very severe COPD patients differs according to gender, as females show greater response longitudinally to LTOT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonology Division, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP-São Paulo State University, Brasil. karinacoleta@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Karina Dela
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Coleta
authors.forename: Daniela F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Suzana E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Tanni
authors.forename: Liciana V A
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Ilda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Godoy
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004232:Diuretics