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Which sex is more affected by lung disease? 


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Women tend to be more affected by lung diseases after puberty, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, while men are at higher risk during the neonatal period and childhood for conditions like acute respiratory distress and bronchopulmonary dysplasia . Additionally, men and women exhibit different manifestations of major lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and pulmonary hypertension, with sex-specific trends observed in lung cancer incidence and mortality . Biological sex differences, including hormonal influences, genetic variations, immune responses, and environmental exposures, play crucial roles in the susceptibility, severity, and therapeutic responses of various lung diseases across the lifespan . Understanding these sex-related differences is essential for personalized management and treatment strategies in lung diseases.

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Open accessJournal ArticleDOI
01 Jun 2023-Cancers
Males are more affected by lung cancer, exhibiting higher lifetime risk and mortality rates compared to females, with sex-specific trends influenced by biological and environmental factors.
Women are more affected by connective tissue diseases (CTD) associated with interstitial lung diseases (ILD), while idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) shows a male predominance.
Men and women exhibit different manifestations of lung diseases, with sex differences observed. Network medicine and systems biology can help understand these variations comprehensively.
Males are more affected by lung diseases during the neonatal period and childhood, while females are more affected after puberty, as seen in asthma and cystic fibrosis.
Open accessBook ChapterDOI
05 Dec 2022
Males are more affected by lung disease due to factors like oxidative stress from androgen deficiency, susceptibility to inflammation, and the importance of lipids and zinc in respiratory health.

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