Cilj: Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi postoji li razlika u težini bolesti između muškaraca i žena oboljelih od kronične opstruktivne plućne bolesti (KOPB-a), čija se etiologija pripisuje pušenju. Ispitanici i metode: Istraživanje je obuhvatilo 250 ispitanika oboljelih od KO- PB-a. Ispitivani uzorak činile su 82 žene (32,8 %) i 168 muškaraca (67,2 %) prosječne životne dobi od 68,2 g. Ispitanici su podijeljeni u 2 skupine shodno spolu. Svaka ispitivana skupina potom je podijeljena na podskupine nepušača, bivših pušača i aktivnih pušača. U skupini žena dominirali su nepušači (N = 35; 42 %), a u skupini muškaraca pušači (N = 58; 34,5 %). Ispitanici su podijeljeni prema kriterijima GOLD-a iz 2010. godine u 3 skupine, ovisno o težini bolesti (GOLD I, GOLD II i GOLD III). Rezultati: Usporedba pušačkih godina, tj. broja cigareta popušenih na dan podijeljenog s 20 (broj cigareta u kutiji) i potom pomnoženog s brojem godina pušenja (engl. pack/year; p/y) bivših i aktivnih pušača obaju spolova pokazuje da između spolova postoji razlika u težini bolesti. Ukupno manji broj žena bivših i aktivnih pušača s nižim prosječnim p/y postiže isti stupanj težine bolesti kao muškarci sa znatno većim prosječnim p/y (p = 0,009). Zaključak: Rezultati upućuju na moguću jaču osjetljivost žena na djelovanje duhanskog dima i njegovih sastojaka na dišne puteve od muškaraca.Aim: To determine the possible difference in disease severity between men and women suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) attributed to smoking. Sub- jects and methods: The study comprised a total of 250 subjects suffering from COPD: 82 (32,8 %) women and 168 (67,2 %) men with the average age of 68.2 years. Subjects were first divided into two gender-based groups. Each of the latter groups was subsequently subdivided into the following subgroups: non-smokers, ex-smokers and active smokers. The study group comprised of women was dominated by non-smokers (N = 35; i.e. 42 %), while that comprised of men was dominated by smokers (N = 58; i.e. 34.5 %). In line with the GOLD criteria observed back in 2010, subjects were divided into three groups (GOLD I, GOLD II and GOLD III) based on their disease severity. Results: Comparison of the length of smoking expressed in the number of cigarettes smoked per day divided by 20 (no of cigarettes in a single pack) and further multiplied by the number of years of active smoking (pack/year; p/y), made be- tween former and active smokers of both genders, shows inter-gender differences in disease severity. A lower total number of former and active female smokers having a lower p/y attains the same degree of the disease severity as men having a substantially higher p/y (p =0.009). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that female airways might be more sensitive to tobacco smoke and its ingredients as compared to those of men
