CONTENTS Preface a Introduction b Philosophical introduction d 1. Sex differences in airway anatomy over human lifespan 1 S. Baraldo, M. Saetta 2. Gender differences in airway behaviour (physiology) over the human lifespan 8 M.R. Becklake 3. Gender differences in immunity over human lifespan 26 E. Mund 4. Adherence with therapy for women with respiratory illnesses 39 C. Rand 5. Differences between males and females in the natural history of asthma and COPD 50 L. Watson, H.M. Boezen, D.S. Postma 6. Gender differences in the natural history of pulmonary diseases 74 D.S. Postma 7. Women and response to drugs 82 J. Black 8. Women and asthma 90 P. Boschetto, D. Miotto, C.E. Mapp 9. Smoking and mortality in women: "smoke like a man, die (at least) 103 like a man" C.S. Ulrik 10. The role of household expsoures in lung disease among women 118 P.D. Blanc 11. Occupational lung disease in women 131 Y. Wai, S.M. Tarlo 12. Women and lung cancer: potential mechanisms of greater susceptibility 146 to tobacco smoke C.M. Dresler, E.R. Gritz The European Respiratory Monograph Number 25 June 2003 Contents MON 25.qxd 02/05/2003 10:41 Page 1