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Sex & Gender in Acute Care Medicine

This chapter explores the influence of sex and gender on tobacco abuse, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It analyzes the gaps in current knowledge and provides recommendations for future research.

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Sex & Gender in Acute Care Medicine

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  1. Sex & Gender in Acute Care Medicine Chapter 3: Pulmonary Disease

  2. Chapter 3: Pulmonary Disease Stacey Poznanski and Rita Cydulka

  3. Case Study • A 45 year old female smoker presents to ED with cough and wheezing x 3 days • She reports increased sputum production • She denies fever, chills, night sweats, hemoptysis • Her heart rate is 105, BP 125/85, respiratory rate of 21, O2 saturation 93% on room air, temp 98.5°

  4. Case Study • On exam, she has no JVD and a tachycardic but regular rate • Lung exam with diffuse tight wheezes • Extremities with no clubbing, cyanosis, or edema • Patient has a history of asthma and uses albuterol MDI and an inhaled corticosteroid daily

  5. Case Study • The patient has smoked 1.5 packs of cigarettes per day for the past 25 years and continues to smoke • This is her third “asthma attack” in two months

  6. Introduction • This chapter highlights the influence of sex and gender on 3 conditions: • Tobacco Abuse • Asthma • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) • This chapter addresses the role of sex and gender in each of these 3 disease processes and analyzes gaps in current knowledge and recommendations for future research

  7. Tobacco Abuse • Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and premature mortality in the US • Accounts for 1 in 5 deaths each year • In 2004, tobacco abuse cost the US an estimated $193 billion in lost productivity and health care costs • Sex-specific factors likely play in role in tobacco-related morbidity and mortality

  8. Smoking in History • In the early 1900s, smoking was considered a male behavior • For women, smoking in public was seen as defiant and radical • However, for a new generation of women seeking equal rights, smoking became a “symbol of emancipation” • By the 1920s, cigarettes became associated with the youthful, educated working woman

  9. Smoking in History • The tobacco industry began marketing cigarettes to women • Notably, Lucky Strikes included testimonials about the benefits of cigarettes for weight loss • Women’s smoking rates rose from 6% in 1924 to 18% in 1935 • For American men, smoking prevalence peaked in the 40s and 50s at 67%

  10. Smoking in History • For women, smoking rates peaked at approximately 44% in 1964 – around the time of the Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health • The report described cigarette use a causal factor in lung disease and increased deaths from coronary artery disease • At this time, research subjects were generally male

  11. Smoking in History • Since then, smoking rates have declined for both sexes – but more slowly in women • Effects of smoking in women were underrepresented in the 1964 Surgeon General’s report • A 1980 report predicted that the sequelae of smoking in women would become more prominent in subsequent decades

  12. Clinical Manifestations • This sex-related trend in smoking rates has led to a shift in sex-specific prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of tobacco-related illnesses • Since 1950, lung cancer rates among women have increased more than 500% • Incidence and death rates for men have been steadily decreasing since the 1990s

  13. Clinical Manifestations • After several decades of increasing lung cancer mortality in women, rates have finally plateaued • COPD mortality rates have followed a similar trend • Historically, COPD has been associated with men (“blue bloater” vs. “pink puffer”) • For the past 10 years, the number of deaths from COPD has been higher in women

  14. Clinical Manifestations • Women reached their current COPD mortality rate faster than men did 20 to 30 years before • Women may be more vulnerable to the effects of cigarette use than men • Some studies suggest a greater decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) in women in response to equal amounts of tobacco • Other studies suggest the opposite, an increased susceptibility in men compared to women

  15. Clinical Manifestations • A recent meta-analysis found evidence of faster decline in lung function in female smokers >45-50 years old compared to male smokers • Estrogen may affect the metabolism of cigarette smoke through cytochrome P450 pathways • Each cigarette may represent greater exposure in women’s smaller airways

  16. Smoking Cessation • Globally, far fewer women use tobacco than men (10% vs 48%, respectively) • However, WHO reports that use among women is increasing and may double by 2025 • As it becomes more socially acceptable for women to adopt men’s social roles and behaviors • Researchers must consider social changes, marketing, and the reasons why men and women initiate smoking

  17. Smoking Cessation • In general, women have more difficulty quitting than men • They often experience less success than men in initial quit attempts, • Greater negative affective responses during withdrawal, • And less successful cessation with nicotine replacement therapy

  18. Smoking Cessation • The Lung Health Study (LHS) found that women had higher rates of relapse to cigarette smoking • And had less frequent, shorter quit attempts • Education correlated with cessation success in both sexes • But women with less than a high school education were significantly less likely to quit than men with equal educational background

  19. Smoking Cessation • Possible link between phases of the menstrual cycle, physiological response to nicotine, and depressive symptoms • Although more research is needed, timing of quit attempts in relation to the menstrual cycle may impact success • Research also indicates that women fail in situations involving negative emotions (financial stress)

  20. Smoking Cessation • Men, on the other hand, fail in situations involving positive emotions (social events) • Men – but not women – are more likely to be successful if they experience negative health outcomes or social pressure to quit • Fear of weight gain has been a barrier to cessation and a reason for relapse, especially in women

  21. Smoking Cessation • Women are more likely than men to acknowledge this concern as a negative influence on their motivation to quit • In the LHS, despite efforts to minimize weight gain, a weight gain of 20% or more over baseline was reported in 7.6% of men and 19.1% of women

  22. Acute Management • Prevalence rates of smoking in US EDs tend to be higher than the general population • In one prospective study, as high as 48% of ED patients in 3 US cities were current smokers • EDs are often the main source of care for the uninsured • >79% of adult smokers in the ED are contemplating quitting or preparing to quit

  23. Acute Management • The ED visit may be the ideal opportunity to provide cessation interventions • Although there are certainly barriers to ED intervention (including resources, time, and provider training), several studies report successful implementation of smoking cessation programs in the ED

  24. Acute Management • Given the sex- and gender-specific differences in the motivation to smoke and the ability to quit, studies suggest that sex and gender sensitive interventions increase cessation rates • The Smokefree Women site (www.women.smokefree.gov) provides evidence-based information to increase women’s motivation to quit

  25. Acute Management • Gender-specific materials have also been created for men • The book, The Right Time, The Right Reasons: Dads Talk About Reducing and Quitting Smoking, encourages men to consider the advantages of being a dad who doesn’t smoke • Available at www.facet.ubc.ca

  26. Prevention • Compared to adults, smoking rates among adolescents are on the rise • Cigarettes, historically a symbol of liberation for women, continue to be a symbol of independence and maturity for youth

  27. Prevention • Lack of intent to pursue college degree, high school dropout status, and single-parent household all correlate with increased risk of tobacco initiation • Tobacco control efforts must address cultural, psychosocial, and sociodemographic factors involved in the decision to smoke • Additionally, these factors are often influenced by sex and gender

  28. Conclusion • Public health efforts since the 1960s have resulted in declining prevalence of smoking in adults • Still, more than 20% of Americans smoke and smoking among adolescents is rising • Rates of lung cancer and COPD are increasing in women • We need effective, sex- and gender-specific prevention and cessation programs

  29. Asthma • Asthma affects an estimated 39.5 million Americans and more than 300 million people worldwide • In 2011, females were 14% more likely than males to have been diagnosed with asthma, although age is also factor • From 2002-2007, the annual economic cost of asthma in the US was $56 billion ($50 billion in direct health care cost)

  30. Gender Risk • Studies consistently demonstrate that asthma prevalence rates by gender change with age • Before puberty, asthma is 16% more prevalent in boys • In adulthood, prevalence is 62% greater in women • Prevalence in women decreases after menopause

  31. Gender Risk • Additionally, asthmatic women report a peri-menstrual worsening of symptoms • This suggests that sex hormones may play a role in asthma, although the exact mechanism is yet to be determined • Thus far, studies on the role of sex hormones have been inconclusive

  32. Gender Risk • There are many theories as to how sex hormones may affect asthma • It is thought that estrogen may be involved in signaling pathways related to organ functioning • Testosterone may play a role in the relaxation of airway smooth muscle

  33. Gender Risk • Adding to the complexity of the role of sex hormones, as many as 42% of pregnant asthmatics require hospitalization • Two large studies found post-menopausal hormone replacement to be associated with increased risk of newly diagnosed asthma • Asthma is not only more common in women but also more severe • In 2011, 8 million women reported an asthma attack compared to 5 million men

  34. Natural History • Asthma is generally a chronic illness with reversible exacerbations and a relatively good prognosis • However, asthma can cause a permanent decrease in lung function and increase mortality • Overall, mortality from asthma is low (0.15 per 1000 persons with asthma from 2007-2009)

  35. Natural History • Asthma death rates were >30% higher for women than men from 2007 to 2009 • These results do not adjust for women having a higher prevalence as adults and a higher death rate compared to children • Data on sex-specific differences in mortality are conflicting and difficult to distinguish from age-related effects

  36. Clinical Manifestations Asthma is characterized by: Gender Matters A patient’s ability to detect changes in airflow depends on his/her ability to perceive it Poor perceivers may not be able to recognize symptoms Literature suggests that men and women perceive and/or experience asthma symptoms differently • Airway inflammation, causing episodes of reversible airflow obstruction • Wheezing • Dyspnea • Chest tightness • Cough

  37. Clinical Manifestations • Women perceive more difficulty controlling their asthma than men • They describe more frequent, more severe symptoms and worse impact on quality of life • despite using similar medications and having similar or better pulmonary function compared to men

  38. Clinical Manifestations • Women: • Have higher numbers of unscheduled physician visits • Have more frequent use of oral corticosteroids and rescue beta agonist inhalers • Are 50% more likely to report ongoing symptoms after discharge

  39. Clinical Manifestations • Men may report fewer symptoms because they find their symptoms less concerning or because they practice denial • Increased bronchial responsiveness in women could explain differences in perceived airflow obstruction • Increased susceptibility to cigarette smoke may also contribute to bronchial hyperresponsiveness

  40. Clinical Manifestations • Inspiratory muscle strength is significantly greater in men and is inversely related to dyspnea • The exact mechanisms of the differences in symptom perception, psychosocial associations, airway responsiveness, and other factors are unknown and warrant further research

  41. Diagnosis • The same diagnostic approach is used for asthmatic men and women • When taking a history in women, additional questioning should address reproductive health to identify sex-related triggers (i.e., timing of exacerbations with the menstrual cycle)

  42. Diagnosis • Hallmark presentation of asthma includes a history of episodic cough, chest tightness, and dyspnea • Physical exam may reveal wheezes • Exam findings and vital signs are often unreliable predictors of degree of airway obstruction • A quality history and pulmonary function testing are crucial to diagnosis and evaluation

  43. Diagnosis • In both sexes, it is often difficult to assess the severity or predict the course of an asthma exacerbation in the ED • Spirometry is often not available • Patients with significant airflow obstruction may be unable to accurately perform forced airway maneuvers

  44. Diagnosis • Study by Piovesan et al. (2006) found that peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) may be useful in predicting outcomes in acute asthma • A PEFR ≥40% after 15 min. of treatment showed significant power in predicting a favorable outcome • A PEFR <30% after 15 min. of treatment was predictive of a poor outcome • Studies suggest that women may need more time and instruction on correct use of peak flow meters compared to men

  45. Diagnosis • Without objective measures to assess level of obstruction, patients (especially men) may be undertreated • Women with an equal degree of obstruction may perceive their symptoms as more severe – so objective measures cannot be the sole factor • Patients with worsening symptoms that are unresponsive to therapy should be referred for formal spirometry and testing to rule out COPD

  46. Acute Management • Treatment of an acute asthma exacerbation in the ED should correct tissue oxygenation, alleviate any reversible bronchospasm, remove underlying triggers, and respond to complications • Treatment may include oxygen, adrenergic agents, anticholinergics, corticosteroids and magnesium

  47. Acute Management • Some recognized triggers of asthma include: • Tobacco smoke, air pollution, occupational exposures, gastroesophageal reflux disease, exercise, medications (NSAIDs, beta-blockers) • If triggers are identified, a plan should be made to limit patient’s exposure • Expert consensus recommends spirometric testing as soon as possible once patient is stable

  48. Acute Management • Further research is needed on sex-specific approaches to treatment and assessment • Gender-specific approaches have shown benefit • An RCT (Clark et al.) of a telephone intervention for women that emphasized sex and gender role factors in asthma management • Found significant improvements in health status and quality of life among intervention subjects

  49. Prevention • Although there is no known way to prevent the development of asthma, methods of controlling exacerbations are well-established: • Early referral to spirometry for patients with respiratory symptoms and those at risk for asthma • Smoking cessation counseling • Sex-specific asthma education • Weight loss – Obesity appears to be a major risk factor for asthma development in women

  50. Clinical Outcomes • Sex differences may affect clinical outcomes, specifically resource utilization and morbidity • Women adhere more closely to asthma management guidelines • Are more likely to have a PCP • Despite having better pulmonary function, less hypoxia, similar maintenance medications and ED treatment, adult women are still hospitalized more frequently than men

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