COPD symptoms are harsher for women than men: Study
| May 27, 2019, 16:29 IST
A new study has found female patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience more severe symptoms of the condition than men. The why is not yet known.
"Women with COPD experienced increased symptom burden, poorer quality of life, more frequent exacerbations, and more impaired functional status than their male counterparts,” Dr MeiLan Han, study author and professor of internal medicine in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Michigan Health System, told a news portal.
COPD is a term used to describe a cluster of progressive lung diseases, like chronic bronchitis, nonreversible asthma and emphysema. Wheezing, coughing, unable to breathe properly and chest tightness are some of the symptoms of the condition. Currently, there is no cure for the conditions.
Previous research has also indicated women are more at risk of dying from COPD than men. "Women are more susceptible and more vulnerable than men with regard to COPD. Faster decline in lung function with more severe airflow limitation, as well as increased symptom burden related to COPD in women compared to men, has been reported in other studies. Compared to men, women experience more shortness of breath, more depression and anxiety, and lower quality of life,” Singh told a news portal.
This health issue can also impact a patient's mood. "One of my colleagues refers to this as 'death by armchair,' as the impaired pulmonary function leads to the patients not being able to do activities of daily living and normal activities that give them pleasure. As their disease progresses, their ability to interact with the world around them decreases, and hence their mood is negatively affected,” Dr Brooks Thomas Kuhn, an assistant professor in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of California Davis School of Medicine, told a news portal.
The study's findings were presented at the American Thoracic Society’s international conference in Dallas (US).
"Women with COPD experienced increased symptom burden, poorer quality of life, more frequent exacerbations, and more impaired functional status than their male counterparts,” Dr MeiLan Han, study author and professor of internal medicine in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Michigan Health System, told a news portal.
COPD is a term used to describe a cluster of progressive lung diseases, like chronic bronchitis, nonreversible asthma and emphysema. Wheezing, coughing, unable to breathe properly and chest tightness are some of the symptoms of the condition. Currently, there is no cure for the conditions.
Previous research has also indicated women are more at risk of dying from COPD than men. "Women are more susceptible and more vulnerable than men with regard to COPD. Faster decline in lung function with more severe airflow limitation, as well as increased symptom burden related to COPD in women compared to men, has been reported in other studies. Compared to men, women experience more shortness of breath, more depression and anxiety, and lower quality of life,” Singh told a news portal.
This health issue can also impact a patient's mood. "One of my colleagues refers to this as 'death by armchair,' as the impaired pulmonary function leads to the patients not being able to do activities of daily living and normal activities that give them pleasure. As their disease progresses, their ability to interact with the world around them decreases, and hence their mood is negatively affected,” Dr Brooks Thomas Kuhn, an assistant professor in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of California Davis School of Medicine, told a news portal.
The study's findings were presented at the American Thoracic Society’s international conference in Dallas (US).