There is evidence to suggest sex differences exists in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinical expression. We investigated sex differences in health status perception, dyspnoea and physical activity, and factors that explain these differences using an epidemiological sample of subjects with and without COPD.PLATINO is a cross-sectional, population-based study. We defined COPD as post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio = 2 versus 35% of males. A similar trend was observed in females with COPD (63% versus 44%). in the entire study population, female sex was a factor explaining dyspnoea (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.40-1.84) and SF-12 physical score (OR -1.13, 95% CI -1.56- -0.71). 40% of females versus 28% of males without COPD reported their general health status as fair-to-poor. Females with COPD showed a similar trend (41% versus 34%). Distribution of COPD severity was similar between sexes, but currently smoking females had more severe COPD than currently smoking males.There are important sex differences in the impact that COPD has on the perception of dyspnoea, health status and physical activity limitation.Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Ingelheim, Germany)Asociacion Latinoamericana de Torax (ALAT)Univ Republica, Fac Med, Montevideo, UruguayCent Univ Venezuela, Fac Med, Caracas, VenezuelaUniv Calif Los Angeles, Sch Publ Hlth, Los Angeles, CA 90024 USAInst Resp Dis, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Pelotas, Postgrad Program Epidemiol, Pelotas, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Santiago, ChileUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc
