Table 3 Evidence from the studies included in the systematic review concerning the sex-related differences in the effectiveness of COPD treatments
From: Sex differences in adult asthma and COPD therapy: a systematic review
Outcomes | Treatments and comparisons | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Muscarinic antagonists | ICS | Short-acting bronchodilators | LABA/LAMA | ICS/LABA | PDE4 inhibitor | Azithromycin | Varenicline | |||||
vs. PCB or baseline | vs. PCB or baseline | Discontinuation | vs. baseline | vs. LAMA | vs. LABA | vs. ICS/LABA | vs. PCB | vs. PCB | vs. PCB | vs. PCB | vs. PCB | |
FEV1 | [43, 45]: women ≈ men; [44]: women responded significantly better than men | [42]: women ≈ men | / | [58]: women responded significantly better than men; [59]: men responded significantly better than women | [49]: women ≈ men; [50]: women responded significantly better than men; [51]: men responded significantly better than women | [51]: women ≈ men | [50]: men responded significantly better than women; [52]: women ≈ men | [50]: men responded significantly better than women; [51]: women ≈ men | / | / | / | |
Protection against bronchial provocation | / | / | / | [57]: numerically better in women than in men | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / |
Exacerbation | [43]: women ≈ men | / | / | / | [51]: women ≈ men | [51]: women ≈ men | [52]: significant only in men (numerical improvement in women) | [51]: women ≈ men | [61]: men responded significantly better than women; [47]: women ≈ men | [54] significant only in men (numerical improvement in women) | / | |
EXACT or EXACT-RS | [45]: significant reduction in women but not in men | / | / | / | / | / | / | [51]: significant only in men | / | / | / | / |
Adverse respiratory outcome | / | / | [40]: men responded significantly better than women | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | |
TDI | / | / | / | / | [50]: women responded significantly better than men | [51]: significant only in men | [50]: women responded significantly better than men | [50]: women responded significantly better than men; [51]: women ≈ men | / | / | / | / |
Symptom total score | / | / | / | / | [50]: women responded significantly better than men | / | [50]: women responded significantly better than men | [50]: women responded significantly better than men | / | / | / | / |
Phlegm symptoms | / | [41]: significant reduction in men but not in women | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | |
Wheeze, dyspnea, and cough symptoms | / | [41]: women ≈ men | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | |
Rescue medication | [45]: women ≈ men | / | / | / | [50]: numerically better in women than in men | / | [50]: numerically better in women than in men; [52]: significant only in men (numerical improvement in women) | [50]: numerically better in women than in men | / | / | / | / |
SGRQ | / | / | / | [50]: women responded significantly better than men | / | [50]: women better than men; [52]: significant only in men (numerical improvement in women) | [50]: women responded significantly better than men | [61]: women ≈ men; [47]: significant only in men (numerical improvement in women) | / | / | / | |
Mortality | [43]: significant only in men (numerical improvement in women) | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | [46]: women ≈ men; [61]: numerically better in women than in men | / | / | / |
Smoking cessation | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | / | [60]: women ≈ men |