Women's Health and Lung Development and Disease

Abstract

Although the lung is not traditionally thought of as an organ affected by sex-based differences, emerging literature elucidates major differences between men and women in the development, physiology, and predilection to and outcomes in lung diseases. These differences are driven by both differences in sex hormones and differences in environmental exposures. However, in many cases the underlying etiology of these sex- and gender-based differences is unknown. This article outlines the state-of-the-art knowledge on the etiology of sex differences in lung disease, including differences in lung development and physiology, and reviews therapy recommendations that are sex based.

Keywords: Estrogen; Interstitial lung disease; Lung cancer; Pulmonary hypertension; Women.