Gender Plays a Key Role in Respiratory Health: Experts Meet to Bridge the Gap
Apuan Hospital hosted a vital scientific meeting on Saturday, bringing together pulmonologists, GPs, nurses, psychologists, and patient advocates to discuss a critical, often overlooked aspect of respiratory care: gender. Organized by AIPO-ITS/ETS – the italian Association of Hospital Pneumologists, the event, titled “Chronic respiratory diseases from a gender perspective: comparing opinions,” aimed to foster a multidisciplinary conversation about tailoring diagnosis and treatment to account for sex and gender differences.
Dr. Filomena Marrelli emphasized the importance of gender medicine, stating, “It’s essential for ensuring equitable care and effective treatment. Biological, hormonal, and social and cultural factors significantly influence how chronic respiratory diseases develop, progress, and respond to therapy.” She highlighted the need for increased knowledge, training, and collaboration between healthcare professionals across hospital and community settings.
With chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) being a leading cause of illness and death – and numbers projected to rise – the meeting focused specifically on severe asthma and interstitial lung disease. Dr. Valentina Pinelli revealed striking data: over 60% of patients registered with severe asthma are women. Research suggests this might potentially be linked to women’s tendency to downplay symptoms,leading to delayed diagnosis,disease progression,and increased hospitalizations.
The day’s discussions covered the practical application of gender medicine, specific gender-based differences in asthma and interstitial lung disease treatment, the crucial role of patient associations, and strengthening the connection between hospital and community care for those living with CRDs.
This meeting underscores a growing recognition that a one-size-fits-all approach to respiratory health is insufficient, and that understanding the unique needs of male and female patients is paramount to improving outcomes.