Aiming to Improve Equity in Lung Health: Sex and Gender

Common pulmonary diseases may differ in their epidemiology, presentation, and response to therapy in females and males. Biological and environmental influences may play a role in these differences, and physician bias may impact the delivery of care. In several respiratory diseases, females often present with symptoms of depression and anxiety, rather than overt shortness of breath or cough. For many lung diseases, research has been historically focused on males, resulting in a biased understanding of clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis. Requiring equitable inclusion by sex and gender in clinical and basic research will help address many of the gaps in the current understanding of disease pathogenesis and treatment. Significant work remains to be done to provide the best care for all patients with lung disease.