[The influence of gender on the perception of dyspnea in patients with mild-moderate asthma].

BACKGROUND: Men and women respond differently to asthma. Current data suggest that there are more hospital admissions, decreased quality of life (QOL) and increased use of MDIs, in asthmatic females compared to males. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Respiratory muscle strength, 2-agonists consumption, the QOL and the perception of dyspnea (POD) were measured in 20 asthmatic females and 20 males, with mild-persistent to moderate asthma. The results were compared to 40 normal subjects (20 females and 20 males), age matched, who served as a control group. RESULTS: Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength were significantly lower (p < 0.01), while the POD and the mean daily 2-agonist consumption were significantly higher (p < 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively), in the females. The females also had significantly lower QOL compared to their male counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: The POD and the mean daily 2-agonist consumption, in asthmatic females, are significantly higher and the QOL significantly lower than that of their male counterparts. The females also had weaker respiratory muscles. Hence, knowing the relation between the POD and the respiratory muscles it can be assumed that this deference in strength may play a role in the gender differences in the response to asthma.

Influence of gender and inspiratory muscle training on the perception of dyspnea in patients with asthma.

BACKGROUND: Men and women respond differently to asthma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (P(Imax)), beta(2)-agonist consumption, and perception of dyspnea (POD) were measured in 22 women and 22 men with mild persistent-to-moderate asthma. Next, the women were randomized into two groups: those who received inspiratory muscle training and those who received sham training. The training ended when the P(Imax) of the training group was equal to that of the male subjects. POD was then measured once again. RESULTS: Baseline P(Imax) was significantly lower (p < 0.01) while POD and mean daily beta(2)-agonist consumption were significantly higher in the female subjects. P(Imax) reached the level of the male subjects at the end of the 20th week of training. The increase in the P(Imax) was associated with a statistically significant decrease in mean daily beta(2)-agonist use and in POD to a similar level as in male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: POD and mean daily beta(2)-agonist consumption in asthmatic women are significantly higher, and the P(Imax) significantly lower, than that of their male counterparts. When the P(Imax) of female subjects following training is equal to that in male subjects, the differences in POD and mean daily beta(2)-agonist consumption disappear.