RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Absolute values of lung function explain the sex difference in breathlessness in the general population
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 1602047
DO 10.1183/13993003.02047-2016
VO 49
IS 5
A1 Magnus Ekström
A1 Linus Schiöler
A1 Rune Grønseth
A1 Ane Johannessen
A1 Cecilie Svanes
A1 Benedicte Leynaert
A1 Deborah Jarvis
A1 Thorarinn Gislason
A1 Pascal Demoly
A1 Nicole Probst-Hensch
A1 Isabelle Pin
A1 Angelo G. Corsico
A1 Bertil Forsberg
A1 Joachim Heinrich
A1 Dennis Nowak
A1 Chantal Raherison-Semjen
A1 Shyamali C. Dharmage
A1 Giulia Trucco
A1 Isabel Urrutia
A1 Jesús Martinez-Moratalla Rovira
A1 José Luis Sánchez-Ramos
A1 Christer Janson
A1 Kjell Torén
YR 2017
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/49/5/1602047.abstract
AB 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