Gender Differences In Asthma

Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways (GINA, Global Initiative for Asthma, 2017). The main symptoms are dyspnea, wheezing, chronic cough, and chest tightness. The prevalence for asthma varies worldwide from 1 to 18%. Women are more often affected by asthma than men. There is good evidence for gender-specific differences in asthma regarding all affected areas, from intra- and extracellular mediators to the whole organ structure und functioning of the lung. These result from complex, in parts synergistic, in other parts opposing effects, especially of female sex hormons, and rather asthma protective effects of male hormons, which include effects on the cellular immune system [43]. Additionally, there are gender differences of sociocultural origin, regarding presentation, doctor's diagnosis, and treatment of asthma symptoms, as well as the undertaken coping strategies concerning the patient's complaints. Taking better account for gender-specific differences in asthma would lead to greater individual diagnosis and therapies.