Abstract

There is a growing body of literature showing that sex and gender affect the incidence, susceptibility, presentation, diagnosis and severity of lung diseases. However, despite the availability of data on differences in health outcomes, current medical practice does not take sex and gender sufficiently into account in relation to disease management. In this chapter, we explore the importance of considering sex and gender relative to outcomes in chronic respiratory diseases to promote disease prevention and better management for respiratory patients.

Cite as: Zhang X, Quint JK, Whittaker H. Inequalities in respiratory health based on sex and gender. In: Sinha IP, Lee A, Katikireddi SV, et al., eds. Inequalities in Respiratory Health (ERS Monograph). Sheffield, European Respiratory Society, 2023; pp. 40–50 [https://doi.org/10.1183/2312508X.10003522].