TY - JOUR T1 - Absolute values of lung function explain the sex difference in breathlessness in the general population JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.02047-2016 VL - 49 IS - 5 SP - 1602047 AU - Magnus Ekström AU - Linus Schiöler AU - Rune Grønseth AU - Ane Johannessen AU - Cecilie Svanes AU - Benedicte Leynaert AU - Deborah Jarvis AU - Thorarinn Gislason AU - Pascal Demoly AU - Nicole Probst-Hensch AU - Isabelle Pin AU - Angelo G. Corsico AU - Bertil Forsberg AU - Joachim Heinrich AU - Dennis Nowak AU - Chantal Raherison-Semjen AU - Shyamali C. Dharmage AU - Giulia Trucco AU - Isabel Urrutia AU - Jesús Martinez-Moratalla Rovira AU - José Luis Sánchez-Ramos AU - Christer Janson AU - Kjell Torén Y1 - 2017/05/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/49/5/1602047.abstract N2 - Activity-related breathlessness is twice as common among females as males in the general population and is associated with adverse health outcomes. We tested whether this sex difference is explained by the lower absolute forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) or forced vital capacity (FVC) in females.This was a cross-sectional analysis of 3250 subjects (51% female) aged 38−67 years across 13 countries in the population-based third European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Activity-related breathlessness was measured using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale. Associations with mMRC were analysed using ordered logistic regression clustering on centre, adjusting for post-bronchodilator spirometry, body mass index, pack-years smoking, cardiopulmonary diseases, depression and level of exercise.Activity-related breathlessness (mMRC ≥1) was twice as common in females (27%) as in males (14%) (odds ratio (OR) 2.21, 95% CI 1.79−2.72). The sex difference was not reduced when controlling for FEV1 % predicted (OR 2.33), but disappeared when controlling for absolute FEV1 (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.69−1.14). Absolute FEV1 explained 98−100% of the sex difference adjusting for confounders. The effect was similar within males and females, when using FVC instead of FEV1 and in healthy never-smokers.The markedly more severe activity-related breathlessness among females in the general population is explained by their smaller spirometric lung volumes.The sex difference in breathlessness is explained by absolute FEV1 or FVC http://ow.ly/TXoI308DZO3 ER -