{
  "abstract": "Background and Importance Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease with significant social impact. Although evidence highlights sex-related differences in prevalence, severity, and management, the underlying causes of these differences remain unclear from clinical, pharmacological, and quality of life perspectives. Assessing these aspects may support more personalised approaches to optimise disease control in both genders and improve quality of life in women.Aim and Objectives The objective of this study is to analyse the distinctive aspects of severe asthma in women from clinical, pharmacological, and quality of life perspectives, and to evaluate whether differences exist between men and women in the control of this disease.Material and Methods This retrospective longitudinal observational study included patients with severe asthma followed at the Multidisciplinary Severe Asthma Clinic (MSAC) of a tertiary hospital in Spain and its pharmaceutical care consultation. Data from January to December 2024 were collected from the electronic medical record system (HCIS ), the Severe Asthma Unit database, the Single Prescription Module (MUP), and the Farmatools dispensing program to evaluate treatment regimens.Results A total of 223 patients with severe asthma were included (mean age 63 years; 70.4% women). The most frequent inhaled regimen was long-acting beta agonist and inhaled corticosteroids (LABA–ICS) 66.2% women vs 63.6% men. Poor adherence, defined as a medication possession ratio (MPR) of less than 50%, was observed in 24.2% of patients, more frequent in women (26% vs 15.4%; p<0.05). Overuse of rescue inhalers was found in over 50% of patients, without sex differences. Oral corticosteroid use was higher in women (20.6% vs 15.1%; p<0.05), as was antidepressant/anxiolytic treatment (63% of women vs 36.3% of men; p>0.05). Biologic therapy was prescribed in 109 patients (68.8% were women), mostly mepolizumab, with similar rates between sexes. Biomarkers showed lower FeNO (33.5 vs 46.5; p<0.05) and lower IgE (329.5 vs 431.5; p<0.05) in women. Furthermore, women had a lower Asthma Control Test (ACT) score (18.3 vs 21.5; p<0.05).Conclusion and Relevance Sex differences in severe asthma are clinically and pharmacologically relevant. According to the analysis of the data collected, women show higher comorbidity burden, poorer disease control and worse adherence despite similar prescriptions. These findings support the need for gender-sensitive asthma management and further prospective studies.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Farmacia Hospitalaria, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "L Carrasco"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Farmacia Hospitalaria, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "E Villamañán"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Farmacia Hospitalaria, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "ME Ibañez"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Neumología, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "C Carpio"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Neumología, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "D Laorden"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Farmacia Hospitalaria, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "S Bueno"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Farmacia Hospitalaria, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "E Benito"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Farmacia Hospitalaria, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "E Villarroya"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Farmacia Hospitalaria, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "A Soto"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Farmacia Hospitalaria, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "S Mallon"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital Universitario La Paz, Farmacia Hospitalaria, Madrid, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "A Herrero"
    }
  ],
  "title": "4CPS-067 Understanding severe asthma in women: towards a more precise and gender-sensitive management",
  "uid": "a2d894f7-0239-5622-bd18-43500e00de3d"
}