Women who develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) report smoking fewer cigarettes than men; yet, women experience greater breathing impairments, are subjected to more acute exacerbations of symptoms, and report lower quality of life than men with the disease, according to research presented at ATS 2019. Using the same data source, SPIROMICS, the National Institutes of Health funded the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study. The researchers now plan to investigate the role hormonal factors may play in these gender differences.