The role of gender in determining COPD risk remains
unclear44. In the past, most studies showed that COPD
prevalence and mortality were greater among men than
women. Studies from developed countries45,46 show that
the prevalence of the disease is now almost equal in men
and women, which probably reflects changing patterns of
tobacco smoking. Some studies have suggested that
women are more susceptible to the effects of tobacco
smoke than men44,47,48. This is an important question given
the increasing rate of smoking among women in both
developed and developing countries.