title: Gender differences of airway dimensions in anatomically matched sites on CT in smokers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are limited data on, and controversies regarding gender differences in the airway dimensions of smokers. Multi-detector CT (MDCT) images were analyzed to examine whether gender could explain differences in airway dimensions of anatomically matched airways in smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used VIDA imaging software to analyze MDCT scans from 2047 smokers (M:F, 1021:1026) from the COPDGene® cohort. The airway dimensions were analyzed from segmental to subsubsegmental bronchi. We compared the differences of luminal area, inner diameter, wall thickness, wall area percentage (WA%) for each airway between men and women, and multiple linear regression including covariates (age, gender, body sizes, and other relevant confounding factors) was used to determine the predictors of each airway dimensions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lumen area, internal diameter and wall thickness were smaller for women than men in all measured airway (18.4 vs 22.5 mm(2) for segmental bronchial lumen area, 10.4 vs 12.5 mm(2) for subsegmental bronchi, 6.5 vs 7.7 mm(2) for subsubsegmental bronchi, respectively p < 0.001). However, women had greater WA% in subsegmental and subsubsegmental bronchi. In multivariate regression, gender remained one of the most significant predictors of WA%, lumen area, inner diameter and wall thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women smokers have higher WA%, but lower luminal area, internal diameter and airway thickness in anatomically matched airways as measured by CT scan than do male smokers. This difference may explain, in part, gender differences in the prevalence of COPD and airflow limitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Yu-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Make
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: Raúl San José
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Estépar
authors.forename: Nicola A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hanania
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Washko
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hokanson
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zach
authors.forename: Kiel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Butterfield
authors.forename: Russell P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bowler
authors.lastname: Copdgene Investigators
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001995:Bronchography / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed