TY - JOUR T1 - Gender differences in active tuberculosis JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P2688 AU - Catarina Ferreira AU - Teresa Pinto AU - Inês Neves AU - Raquel Duarte Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2688.abstract N2 - Global tuberculosis (TB) prevalence in men are twice that in women. Gender differences may be caused by socioeconomic and cultural factors related to exposure as well as biological mechanisms.Aims: Compare sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical data between female and male patients with active TB.Methods: During 4 months, adults in treatment of active TB in a TB reference center were prospectively selected. Data were obtained from a questionnaire applied to the patients and complemented with medical records. Data were subsequently compared between genders.Results: Included 78 patients, 52 (66.7%) males, mean age 47.8±15.5 yrs. There was no significant difference in age, weight and occupational status between the two subgroups. Women had higher educational level (p=0,018) and monthly income (p=0,02). Social habits were similar, but the average number of selected contacts was higher in women. Regarding comorbidities, male had higher levels of smoking and alcohol abuse (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively) and higher incidence of HIV infection (p=0.024). There were no differences in the way of detection of TB, anatomical site of disease, history of previous TB treatment or history of TB contact. Women reported less respiratory symptoms (p=0,002) with less cough, sputum and dyspnea (p=0.002, p<0.001 and p=0,019, respectively). There were no differences in systemic symptoms of TB.Conclusion: In our study, men with active tuberculosis had lower educational level and monthly income and higher levels of HIV infection, smoking and alcohol abuse. As described in the literature, women reported less respiratory symptoms that might complicate the diagnosis of tuberculosis. ER -