Gender Factor in Respiratory Diseases

Gülfer DOĞAN PEKİNCEa , Ayça BALMUMCUa
aAydın Adnan Menderes University Söke Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Nursing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Aydın, Türkiye

Doğan Pekince G, Balmumcu A. Gender factor in respiratory diseases. In: Çevik Akyıl R, ed. Nursing Approach in Respiratory Diseases. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2025. p.109-14.

ABSTRACT
Gender variance has been an area of interest from the past to the present in the study of factors affecting health and disease states. There are differences in the prevalence and severity of respiratory disorders between the genders. Studies have revealed that bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, COPD and asthma affect adult women more while COVID-19 affects men more. The more we know about the mechanisms behind gender inequality in airway diseases, the more we can improve therapeutic interventions and achieve better outcomes for both men and women. Further studies on gender-based diagnostic and treatment strategies for respiratory diseases would also be useful in terms of achieving good results. Nurses also have a major role in this regard. Nurses should try to facilitate the patient’s compliance with the disease with a holistic approach, to reduce the effects of the disease on the patient, and to fulfil the responsibility of education, counselling and care giving to achieve good results by collaborating with other health professionals.

Keywords: Gender role; respiratory system; cystic fibrosis; COVID-19; pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive

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