Female reproductive factors closely associated with COPD risk: BMJ study

Written By : Jacinthlyn Sylvia |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2024-02-21T01:30:25+05:30 | Updated On 21 Feb 2024 12:49 PM IST

A recent study published in the BMJ Thorax unveiled the intricate relationship between female reproductive factors and the development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This research looks into how aspects like the age at menarche, childbirth, miscarriage, stillbirth and menopause could influence the susceptibility of woman to COPD.

This study analyzed data across three cohorts from over 280,000 women that makes it one of the most extensive investigations into this subject. Over a median follow-up period of 11 years, 3.8% of the participants were diagnosed with COPD. The findings revealed a U-shaped relationship was observed between age at menarche and COPD risk which indicates that both early and late onset of menstruation could increase susceptibility. Also, women with three or more children were found to have an increased risk of COPD when compared to those with fewer offspring, with a similar pattern observed in the individuals who experienced multiple miscarriages or stillbirths.

Among postmenopausal women, an earlier onset of natural menopause was associated to an elevated risk of COPD. The individuals who experienced menopause before the age of 40 were almost twice as likely to develop COPD when compared to those who reached menopause between the ages of 50 and 51. These findings underline the complex relationship between reproductive health and respiratory outcomes in women. While previous studies have primarily focused on the impact of smoking and environmental factors on COPD risk, this study in particular, highlights the significance of considering female-specific variables.

This study emphasized the importance of the outcomes in informing healthcare strategies and personalized interventions for COPD prevention in women. The findings highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to COPD prevention which takes into account the traditional risk factors and reproductive history in addition.

Reference:

Liang, C., Chung, H.-F., Dobson, A. J., Sandin, S., Weiderpass, E., & Mishra, G. D. (2024). Female reproductive histories and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax. https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2023-220388

BMJ ThoraxChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseasereproductive factors

Source : BMJ Thorax

Jacinthlyn Sylvia

Neuroscience Masters graduate

Jacinthlyn Sylvia, a Neuroscience Master's graduate from Chennai has worked extensively in deciphering the neurobiology of cognition and motor control in aging. She also has spread-out exposure to Neurosurgery from her Bachelor’s. She is currently involved in active Neuro-Oncology research. She is an upcoming neuroscientist with a fiery passion for writing. Her news cover at Medical Dialogues feature recent discoveries and updates from the healthcare and biomedical research fields. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751