The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing
worldwide, mainly due to the increase in women. In developed countries, COPD in
women is mainly a result of exposure to tobacco smoke and in developing countries
to inhalation of biomass combustion products. Underdiagnosis of COPD is more
common in women since this disease has classically been associated with men.
Moreover, COPD in women shows certain differential features, such as a greater
expression of aspects related to perception (dyspnea and health-related quality
of life), a high prevalence of malnutrition, anxiety and depression, and a
distinct distribution of emphysema from that in men. Better phenotypical
characterization of COPD in women would allow its impact on the health system to
be more accurately evaluated and more individualized therapeutic strategies to be
designe
