TABLE 1

Studies concerned with quality of life by sex in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

First author [ref.]	Country	Quality of life (tools used)	COPD stage	Females/males n	Results
De Torres [82]	Spain, single-centre	SGRQ	GOLD II, III	73/73	Quality of life more impaired in females Dyspnoea and arterial saturation: only factors associated with the SGRQ score, unlike males for whom exercise capacity, dyspnoea and comorbidities are found
Katsura [83]	Japan, single-centre	SGRQ–SF-36, Philadelphia Geriatric Center morale scale	GOLD II	39/117	SGRQ: highest score for activity, impact and total score among females compared with males SF-36 highest score on perceived health and health compared with 1 year ago for females/males
Kaptein [84]	Netherlands	Telephone or e-mail questionnaire: intimate physical contact scale (IPCS) or Respiratory Experiences with Sexuality Profiles (RESP)	COPD, asthma	55 patients (of whom 10 females and 15 males with COPD)	Reduced sexual activity in males and deterioration in quality of sex life More seldom occurrence in women
Rodrìguez- González Moro [85]	Spain	SF-12 (used during consultations with pulmonologists and treating physician)	GOLD II, III	1786/1661	Quality of life more impaired in females, particularly concerning the mental and physical aspects of SF-12
Raherison [1]	France, multicentre	SGRQ, HADS, Q-MAT (for active smokers)	GOLD II, III, IV	247/183	Poorer anxiety and quality of life scores in females even though lung function impairment was less severe than in males

SGRQ: St George's Respiratory Questionnaire; SF: short-form; GOLD: Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; HADS: hospital anxiety and depression scale.