title: Do females behave differently in COPD exacerbation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about whether there is any sex effect on chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) exacerbations. This study is intended to describe the possible sex-associated differences in exacerbation profile in COPD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 384 COPD patients who were hospitalized due to exacerbation were evaluated retrospectively for their demographics and previous and current exacerbation characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study was conducted on 109 (28%) female patients and 275 (72%) male patients. The mean age was 68.30±10.46 years. Although females had better forced expiratory volume in 1 second and near-normal forced vital capacity, they had much impaired arterial blood gas levels (partial oxygen pressure [PO2] was 36.28 mmHg vs 57.93 mmHg; partial carbon dioxide pressure [PCO2] was 45.97 mmHg vs 42.49 mmHg; P=0.001), indicating severe exacerbation with respiratory failure. More females had two exacerbations and two hospitalizations, while more men had one exacerbation and one hospitalization. Low adherence to treatment and pulmonary embolism were more frequent in females. Females had longer time from the onset of symptoms till the admission and longer hospitalization duration than males. Comorbidities were less in number and different in women (P<0.05). Women were undertreated and using more oral corticosteroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current data showed that female COPD patients might be more prone to have severe exacerbations, a higher number of hospitalizations, and prolonged length of stay for hospitalization. They have a different comorbidity profile and might be undertreated for COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Gazi University School of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurdan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kokturk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Dr. Nafiz Körez Sincan Devlet Hastanesi, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulcin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cakır
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: COPD; comorbidities; exacerbation; female; sex