Unique Aspects of Asthma in Women

Casper Tidemandsen; Erik Soeren Halvard Hansen; Soeren Malte Rasmussen; Charlotte Suppli Ulrik; Vibeke Backer

doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2021.04.009

Unique Aspects of Asthma in Women

Clin Chest Med. 2021 Sep;42(3):497-506. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2021.04.009.

Authors

Casper Tidemandsen¹, Erik Soeren Halvard Hansen², Soeren Malte Rasmussen², Charlotte Suppli Ulrik³, Vibeke Backer²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: casper.tidemandsen.02@regionh.dk.
² Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark.

PMID: 34353454
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2021.04.009

Abstract

There are many unique aspects of asthma in women. Compared with men, women go through several hormonal stages over the life span-childhood, menarche, reproductive years, pregnancy, menopause, and postmenopause-and each affects asthma. Onset of asthma in women differs from men. Asthma in women is more often associated with obesity and women are over-represented among patients with severe asthma, including those being prescribed biologic therapies. Asthma affects fertility and pregnancy, and female hormone replacement therapy has been found to affect asthma onset as well as asthma severity. We explore the unique aspects of asthma in women.

Keywords: Asthma; Clinical management; Estrogen; Fertility; Hormones; Pregnancy; Women.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Asthma* / epidemiology
Asthma* / etiology
Asthma* / therapy
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Menarche
Menopause*
Obesity
Pregnancy