The female sex hormones, a protective role in lung health?

Female sex hormones appear to play a protective role in lung health, confirmed by several studies presented at the congress of the European Respiratory Society (ERS), which was held in Stockholm.

An analysis of the major study ECRHS (European Community Respiratory Health Survey) conducted in nine European countries and the United States, confirms preliminary data.

Previous data have shown by example that women before menopause, which have menstrual disorders have a higher risk of asthma, said the MPA Francisco Gomez Real of the University of Bergen and the Municipal Investigació Mèdica Institute in Barcelona, during a press briefing.

By studying lung function women followed up their transition to menopause that the researcher and his colleagues confirm the potentially protective effect of estrogen on respiratory health.

The results, which were presented in oral session, from the analysis of questionnaires completed by 1,034 women aged 45 to 56 years, during menopausal transition, examination of respiratory function and dosage of sex hormones.

These women not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Among them, a third reported not having rules in the six months preceding the study, which was confirmed by measurements of blood levels of sex hormones.

Data analysis, adjusted for body mass index, age, education level, smoking, height and center of inclusion, show that women, compared to those who continued to have regular menstruation, had a greater risk of having at least three respiratory symptoms, increased by 81%, associated with allergies and 91%.

However, the risk of asthma was not significantly increased, said the researcher.

In addition, they had a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) and forced vital capacity (FVC) reduced by an average of 111 mL for both.

The results were similar when the analysis was restricted to women who had never smoked.

The authors also observed that the risk of respiratory symptoms among women who had no rules was even greater among those who were underweight (BMI <22.1), with a 3.26-fold increase, compared to who had a normal weight (BMI between 22.2 and 26.6) or even overweight (BMI> 27).

Sex hormones and body fat are linked, says the researcher.

"Physicians should be aware that women are likely to have breathing problems when they reach menopause," said the researcher, said in a statement to the ERS.